The British Bar Association temporarily suspended the embattled chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court on Friday, pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings.
British barrister Karim Khan was formally removed from his duties at the ICC last week after the court's oversight body found he had engaged in "serious misconduct" over accusations he had an inappropriate relationship with a female staff member.
The 56-year-old has strongly denied the allegations against him.
The move by the Bar Standards Board, which regulates lawyers practising in England and Wales, is the latest challenge Khan is facing.
Last week, the Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties—the executive committee of the ICC's oversight body—concluded that he had engaged in "serious misconduct" and a "serious breach of duty " and recommended his removal from office. A vote will be held next month over whether to remove him from office permanently.
Separately, Khan is also sanctioned by the Trump administration for investigating Israeli officials.
The Bar Standards Board said in a statement that it had suspended Khan from practice and would hold a hearing on disciplinary proceedings within four weeks. The board said it would not comment on what information it based its decision on.
Khan's lawyers said the British legal regulator's decision was based on the Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties' finding of serious misconduct. In a statement, they said that their client "unequivocally denies all allegations of impropriety" and they would be "taking all necessary steps to challenge the decision of the Bureau."
In a scandal that has dragged on at the court in The Hague for more than two years, Khan is accused of sexual misconduct with a female aide.
An AP investigation in 2024 alleged that Khan saw the woman working in another ICC department and moved her into his office, according to whistleblower documents. In 2025, Khan had temporarily stepped down from his duties, pending the outcome of a UN investigation.
In April, a report by the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services said there was evidence he had "nonconsensual sexual contact" with his aide in his office, at his private residence, and while on a mission, according to a copy of its report seen by the AP . However, a three-judge panel tasked with assessing the findings concluded that the investigation was not conclusive enough.
The final decision on Khan's fate is now up to the 125-member Assembly of States Parties, which oversees the ICC.
A diplomatic official, who is not authorised to speak about the process, told AP that several countries are convinced the allegations are an attempt to stop the court's investigation into Israel.
"This is what happens when you go after friends of the US," the official said.
The court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister in 2024. US President Donald Trump's administration has brought sanctions against Khan and a dozen other staff in relation to the Israeli warrants and investigations into American personnel in Afghanistan. The sanctions are hampering work on a broad array of investigations at the court.
On Thursday, the court announced a special session would be held on 24 July in New York to vote on Khan's removal. According to three senior officials involved in the process, who were not authorised to speak publicly, New York is logistically easier than The Hague, as every country already has representation at the United Nations.
Sixty-three countries would need to vote in favour of ousting Khan for the decision to go through. It's unclear who would replace him. Two deputy prosecutors have taken over his duties for the last year.