""We are watching what is coming to light in other countries and how it is affecting politics there," said government spokesman Stefan Kornelius at a press conference. Kornelius stressed that if the documents reveal any criminal offense committed by German nationals, the country's law enforcement agencies would take action. "The federal government is not an investigative authority," the spokesman explained, adding that he is "not currently aware of any criminal proceedings.""
"Are Germans mentioned in the Epstein files? Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel is mentioned in the published documents dozens of times; for example, in email correspondence between Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon, the former chief strategist to US President Donald Trump. Both men make disparaging remarks about Merkel and express their desire to see her fail politically. Another German name in the Epstein files is that of former German Defense Secretary Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg's ex-wife, now known as Stephanie von Bismarck."
"Reporters for German news magazine Der Spiegel found a copy of a press card seemingly issued by the German Union of Journalists Ver.di for Epstein's accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. Ver.di has since described it as a forgery, and reserves the right to take legal action. Several German lawmakers have argued that there should be a systematic evaluation of the files. They want to know whether political or economic influence was exerted in Germany through Epstein's network."
The German government is closely monitoring revelations from the Epstein files and their political effects abroad. Government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said authorities will act if the documents reveal criminal offenses by German nationals and emphasized that the federal government is not an investigative authority. Former Chancellor Angela Merkel appears dozens of times in published documents, including email exchanges between Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon containing disparaging remarks. Stephanie von Bismarck appears twice on a bank customer list unconnected to other accounts. Reporters found a press card for Ghislaine Maxwell that Ver.di calls a forgery. Several German lawmakers demand a systematic evaluation to identify potential political or economic influence in Germany.
Read at www.dw.com
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