Pro-Israel senators call for investigation of ICC prosecutor

A bipartisan group of pro-Israel senators is calling on the head of the governing body that oversees the International Criminal Court to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct against ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan and the timing of issuing an arrest warrant for the Israeli Prime Minister. Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Six senators (three Democrats and three Republicans) were sent a letter On Friday, the President of the Assembly of States Parties, Päivi Kaukoranta, sought answers about what they called “highly irregular and potentially illegal actions” by Khan and detailed “two serious concerns” about the ICC chief prosecutor.

The first concern was the process Khan followed for issuing arrest warrants; He noted that Khan refused to meet with Israeli officials, even though he gave the bipartisan group of senators the impression that he wanted to do so. The letter noted that Khan “suddenly canceled” his May 20 trip to Israel to meet with relevant authorities and “announced the application for an arrest warrant on the same day”; The two decisions, the senators said, “were always puzzling and in stark contrast to the assurances we received from his office that there would be meaningful consultations with Israel, as required by the letter and spirit of the Rome Statute.”

The second issue they raised was about the sexual harassment allegations against Khan and how the timing of the arrest warrant request coincided with when the allegations of misconduct were made. Khan is accused of sexually harassing a female colleague for more than a year, allegedly trying to force her into sexual intercourse and groping her against her will.

The woman, who was questioned by the ICC’s independent monitor after two trusted colleagues reported the alleged misconduct, refused to make a complaint during the interview.

In the weeks that followed, Associated Press report stated that the accuser “decided to move up the chain of command by reaching out to the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, which oversees the court and has the final say on Khan’s future.”

The senators’ letter pointed to the AP report, noting: “Allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct against Prosecutor Khan emerged earlier this year, around the time he decided not to send his team to meet with Israeli legal representatives and instead announced his application for an arrest warrant. ”

“If the allegations are substantiated, we call on the Parliament to take all necessary steps within its authority, including voting to remove him from office, and to consider the results of the investigations conducted by Prosecutor Khan. Transparency regarding the allegations against Prosecutor Khan is of great importance. Senators, “We urge the body to take this seriously,” he wrote.

The letter was led by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD); the latter chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. It was also signed by Senators John Thune (R-SD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and John Fetterman (D-PA).