DThe public prosecutor’s office in Erfurt is investigating the Thuringian CDU state leader Mario Voigt on suspicion of corruption in business dealings. In this context, several premises were searched and evidence secured, said senior public prosecutor Hannes Grünseisen on Thursday evening on request. The Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR) had previously reported on it.
According to Grünseisen, the corruption proceedings against Voigt were initiated after there were indications in another investigation. The allegations were related to Voigt’s activities in the 2019 European election campaign. According to MDR information, Voigt is said to have placed an order with an Internet agency, which is said to have paid him a consulting fee for it.
Voigt said in a written statement on Thursday evening: “For me, what I said from day 1 applies: I have done nothing wrong. My willingness to be transparent and cooperate continues to apply.”
Voigt’s lawyer Valentin Sitzmann added that there was no solid basis for the suspicion. “The actions of the public prosecutor’s office are also disproportionate and excessive. The point in time and the manner of the measure are irritating.” In addition, there is apparently a great need for the authorities to publish the procedure. “Up to now, my client has been extremely cooperative and has always been proactive and transparent,” explained the lawyer.
