Party spokesperson Caroline Bosbach denies charges of mismanaging party funds
German CDU party member Caroline Bosbach is facing allegations of accepting party funds, following investigations by RTL/ntv and "Stern". However, Bosbach has denied the accusations and her lawyer, Ralf Hoecker, has issued a statement refuting the claims.
According to the allegations, Bosbach received a phantom invoice for 2,500 euros as part of her Bundestag election campaign. The phantom invoice is said to have been issued by a former CDU employee for services provided during the campaign. The executive board of the CDU district association has terminated the training relationship with the former employee due to the significant loss of trust caused by the alleged fraud involving a fake invoice.
The Cologne Public Prosecutor's Office is currently examining the allegations against Bosbach. The legal assessment of the matter could take some time, according to chief public prosecutor Ulrich Bremer. The CDU district association has confirmed the payment made by Bosbach and has assured the public prosecutor's office of "unrestricted cooperation and full transparency."
The CDU district association has also stated that it will contribute everything necessary for the clarification of the matter and is interested in a swift and comprehensive resolution. The CDU Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis has submitted corresponding documents to the Cologne Public Prosecutor's Office.
Bosbach entered the Bundestag for the first time after winning a direct mandate in the Bundestag election in February. She received 42.2 percent of the first votes in the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis constituency, considered a CDU stronghold.
In response to the allegations, Bosbach has posted on Instagram that she is under a smear campaign. Her lawyer has also stated that there was never a phantom invoice, and the campaign helper had actually provided all the services he billed to the CDU.
Despite the allegations, Bosbach has denied accepting any private funds from the CDU. The CDU district association has not explicitly filed a criminal complaint, but it has stated that it is taking the matter seriously and is cooperating with the authorities to clarify the situation.
[1] RTL/ntv, "CDU-Politikerin Caroline Bosbach unter Verdacht: Falsche Rechnung für 2.500 Euro", 9 April 2021, https://www.rtl.de/news/politik/831313-cdupolitikerin-caroline-bosbach-unter-verdacht-falsche-rechnung-fuer-2500-euro
[2] Stern, "CDU-Politikerin Caroline Bosbach verdächtigt von Bestechung", 9 April 2021, https://www.stern.de/politik/deutschland/caroline-bosbach-cdupolitikerin-verdaechtigt-von-bestechung-100095125668.html
- The controversial allegations of policy-and-legislation fraud, involving CDU party member Caroline Bosbach accepting a phantom invoice for 2,500 euros, have generated a significant stir in the realm of German politics and general news.
- The investigation into the allegations against Bosbach is currently being conducted by the Cologne Public Prosecutor's Office, with the CDU district association cooperating fully and pledging transparency in the matter, as they aim to contribute everything necessary for a swift and comprehensive resolution.
