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| A Minister in Germany Steps Down Amid Uproar | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| BERLIN — The German agriculture minister, Hans-Peter Friedrich, resigned on Friday after it was revealed that four months ago, as interior minister, he tipped off another senior politician to the criminal investigation of a prominent lawmaker. | BERLIN — The German agriculture minister, Hans-Peter Friedrich, resigned on Friday after it was revealed that four months ago, as interior minister, he tipped off another senior politician to the criminal investigation of a prominent lawmaker. |
| The investigation involves allegations that the lawmaker, Sebastian Edathy of the center-left Social Democrats, possessed videos and pictures of under-age boys, although it is not clear whether they would be considered child pornography. The German news agency DPA said on Friday that prosecutors in the city of Hanover suspected that Mr. Edathy ordered the pictures from 2005 to 2010, seven times by mail and twice online. | |
| Mr. Edathy unexpectedly resigned his seat in Parliament last week, citing health reasons. Three days later, police officers searched his home and offices. Mr. Edathy then issued a statement denying that he possessed any child pornography, and saying the search violated legal standards. | Mr. Edathy unexpectedly resigned his seat in Parliament last week, citing health reasons. Three days later, police officers searched his home and offices. Mr. Edathy then issued a statement denying that he possessed any child pornography, and saying the search violated legal standards. |
| On Thursday, news emerged that Mr. Friedrich, as interior minister, privately informed the leader of the Social Democrats, Sigmar Gabriel, in October that Mr. Edathy’s name had turned up in an investigation. Mr. Gabriel is now vice chancellor in the coalition government of Chancellor Angela Merkel, leader of the Christian Democratic Union. | On Thursday, news emerged that Mr. Friedrich, as interior minister, privately informed the leader of the Social Democrats, Sigmar Gabriel, in October that Mr. Edathy’s name had turned up in an investigation. Mr. Gabriel is now vice chancellor in the coalition government of Chancellor Angela Merkel, leader of the Christian Democratic Union. |
| In announcing his resignation, Mr. Friedrich said he continued to believe “that I behaved correctly, both politically and with regard to the law” in tipping off Mr. Gabriel, who said on Thursday that he had shared the tip with two other senior Social Democrats. | In announcing his resignation, Mr. Friedrich said he continued to believe “that I behaved correctly, both politically and with regard to the law” in tipping off Mr. Gabriel, who said on Thursday that he had shared the tip with two other senior Social Democrats. |
| By early Friday, opposition leaders were clamoring for Mr. Friedrich’s resignation, and prosecutors indicated that they might investigate him on charges of breaching confidentiality. | By early Friday, opposition leaders were clamoring for Mr. Friedrich’s resignation, and prosecutors indicated that they might investigate him on charges of breaching confidentiality. |
| Mr. Friedrich is the first minister in Ms. Merkel’s two-month-old government to resign. Ms. Merkel, still on crutches after a fall while cross-country skiing during the Christmas holidays, appeared briefly before reporters to announce that she had accepted Mr. Friedrich’s resignation “with great respect and great regret.” A successor will be named from the ranks of her Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, to which Mr. Friedrich belongs. | Mr. Friedrich is the first minister in Ms. Merkel’s two-month-old government to resign. Ms. Merkel, still on crutches after a fall while cross-country skiing during the Christmas holidays, appeared briefly before reporters to announce that she had accepted Mr. Friedrich’s resignation “with great respect and great regret.” A successor will be named from the ranks of her Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, to which Mr. Friedrich belongs. |