World Court Ousts Prosecutor Over Sex Misconduct Claims

The International Criminal Court has ousted its top prosecutor over allegations of sexual misconduct—a first-of-its-kind vote that deepens turmoil at the world's war-crimes tribunal, reports Reuters and the AP. The court has not formally announced the verdict against Karim Khan of Britain, but both outlets say a large majority of the ICC's 125 member states voted to remove him on Friday. The move comes nearly two years after allegations emerged that he engaged in a sexual relationship with a female aide and sought to block her complaint. The 56-year-old, who was suspended earlier this year pending the outcome of Friday's vote, denies the allegations.

The decision caps an internal fight that has splintered human rights advocates, court staff, and member governments, even as the ICC faces mounting political pressure and threats from the United States. Khan has cast the accusations as an effort to undermine his investigations into Israeli officials, including Benjamin Netanyahu, per the Times of Israel. Last year, the US sanctioned Khan and separately labeled the ICC a "kangaroo court" over plans to investigate alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.