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German Police Conduct Searches in 2nd Possible Spy Case German Police Conduct Searches in 2nd Possible Spy Case
(about 3 hours later)
BERLIN — The police searched the Berlin-area office and apartment of a man suspected of being a spy on Wednesday, the federal prosecutor’s office said, deepening the espionage scandal that has taken relations between Washington and Berlin to a new low. BERLIN — The police on Wednesday searched the Berlin-area office and apartment of a man suspected of being a spy, the federal prosecutor’s office said, deepening the espionage scandal that has damaged relations between Washington and Berlin.
No one has been arrested yet and the investigation is ongoing, the prosecutor’s office said in a terse statement that concluded, “no further information can be given right now.” No one has been arrested yet and the investigation is continuing, the prosecutor’s office said in a terse statement.
The statement did not specify that the suspect had been spying for the United States. But the German daily Süddeutsche Zeitung and two public broadcasters, which together form an investigative reporting unit, cited informed sources as saying that the suspect worked in the “military field” and had spied for Washington. The statement did not specify that the suspect had been spying for the United States. But a joint investigative reporting unit of the German daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung and two public broadcasters cited informed sources as saying that the suspect worked in the “military field” and had spied for Washington.
Lt. Col. Uwe Roth, a spokesman for the German defense ministry, confirmed that federal prosecutors were carrying out an investigation involving his ministry, but declined to give further details. “We are taking this case very seriously,” he told reporters. Lt. Col. Uwe Roth, a spokesman for the German Defense Ministry, confirmed that federal prosecutors were carrying out an investigation involving his ministry but declined to give further details.
If a second German is found to have been spying for the Americans, it would deepen the trans-Atlantic quarrel that has already erupted over an employee of the German foreign intelligence service who is said to have been run by the Central Intelligence Agency after volunteering information two years ago. That case, revealed last week, deepened the mistrust that has clouded relations between Washington and Berlin for more than a year after revelations of American intelligence activities in Germany, including eavesdropping on a cellphone used by Chancellor Angela Merkel. If a second German is found to have been spying for the Americans, it would deepen the trans-Atlantic quarrel that erupted over an employee of the German foreign intelligence service who is said to have been run by the Central Intelligence Agency after volunteering information two years ago.
Ms. Merkel’s spokesman, Steffen Seibert, declined to comment on the ongoing cases, saying that investigations had to be completed. That case, revealed last week, deepened the mistrust that has clouded relations between Washington and Berlin for more than a year after revelations of American intelligence activities in Germany, including eavesdropping on a cellphone used by Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Ms. Merkel’s spokesman, Steffen Seibert, declined to comment on the continuing cases, saying that investigations had to be completed.
He did say, however, that the government would inform the parliamentary commission that controls the intelligence services as soon as possible about the latest developments.He did say, however, that the government would inform the parliamentary commission that controls the intelligence services as soon as possible about the latest developments.
“The German government is in contact with the American side on many levels, the federal prosecutor and the investigators are continuing their work,” Mr. Seibert said. “We need to wait for them to complete their work before we can speak of possible consequences.”“The German government is in contact with the American side on many levels, the federal prosecutor and the investigators are continuing their work,” Mr. Seibert said. “We need to wait for them to complete their work before we can speak of possible consequences.”
“If the accusations are proven true, then it is a very serious course of events which stands clearly in opposition to what the chancellor understands as trustworthy cooperation between services and from partners,” Mr. Seibert added.“If the accusations are proven true, then it is a very serious course of events which stands clearly in opposition to what the chancellor understands as trustworthy cooperation between services and from partners,” Mr. Seibert added.
John B. Emerson, the American ambassador, who was summoned to the German foreign ministry on July 4 to discuss last week’s spy revelations, was again in the ministry on Wednesday and also met Ms. Merkel’s foreign policy adviser, Christoph Heusgen, the American Embassy said. A spokesman said that both meetings took place at the Americans’ request. John B. Emerson, the American ambassador, who was summoned to the German Foreign Ministry on July 4 to discuss last week’s spy revelations, was again in the ministry on Wednesday and met Ms. Merkel’s foreign policy adviser, Christoph Heusgen, the American Embassy said. A spokesman said both meetings took place at the Americans’ request.
Thomas Miller, the embassy’s top public affairs officer, declined to detail what was discussed. In keeping with American practice, he also declined to comment on the latest reports of a second spy. Die Welt newspaper, which has well-placed sources in the German government, said the second suspect was a Bundeswehr soldier suspected of passing information to United States military intelligence. Thomas Miller, the embassy’s top public affairs officer, declined to detail what was discussed. In keeping with American practice, he also declined to comment on the latest reports of a second spy. The newspaper Die Welt, which has well-placed sources in the German government, said the second suspect was a Bundeswehr soldier suspected of passing information to United States military intelligence.
Ms. Merkel and President Obama did not discuss the espionage case in a telephone call last Thursday that focused on previously scheduled matters such as Ukraine and whether to toughen Western sanctions against Moscow, American officials have said. Norbert Röttgen, a senior member of Ms. Merkel’s conservative party and the head of Parliament’s foreign affairs committee, said he had told United States officials about the political damage the scandal is causing in Germany.
That has raised questions in Washington about when the C.I.A. learned of the case and when Mr. Obama was informed.
In Berlin, outrage has focused on whether Germany, one of Washington’s most loyal allies, can continue to trust the United States.
When media first reported last summer that the National Security Agency was monitoring the communications of millions of Germans, Ms. Merkel’s government sought and appeared to receive assurances that no German laws had been broken. Word that her cellphone had been tapped infuriated Berlin, and the latest case has badly damaged efforts in recent months to mend ties.
Ms. Merkel confirmed on Wednesday that the head of the C.I.A., John O. Brennan, had called her chancellery on Tuesday, the German news agency DPA reported. “I can confirm that there are talks on this, but I can say nothing about results,” Ms. Merkel was quoted as saying.
The online edition of the news weekly Der Spiegel reported earlier that Mr. Brennan had spoken with Klaus-Dieter Fritsche, Ms. Merkel’s senior adviser on intelligence matters, to try to minimize the damage caused by the latest espionage scandal. That conversation was said to have taken place on Tuesday, before the reports of a second person suspected of being an American spy.
Norbert Röttgen, a senior member of Ms. Merkel’s conservative party and the head of Parliament’s foreign affairs committee, said he had told U.S. officials about the political damage the scandal is causing in Germany.
“At some point, the ‘no comment’ will not be enough,” Mr. Röttgen said in a telephone interview from Washington, where he and other lawmakers have been meeting with American officials. “The U.S. must understand what psychological damage it is inflicting. I think that will be a difficult process.”“At some point, the ‘no comment’ will not be enough,” Mr. Röttgen said in a telephone interview from Washington, where he and other lawmakers have been meeting with American officials. “The U.S. must understand what psychological damage it is inflicting. I think that will be a difficult process.”
At the same time, he cautioned his German colleagues to understand that Berlin and Washington have profoundly different views on the role of intelligence services, and not to let these differences permanently damage otherwise strong ties.At the same time, he cautioned his German colleagues to understand that Berlin and Washington have profoundly different views on the role of intelligence services, and not to let these differences permanently damage otherwise strong ties.
“We should not let the intelligence service stupidities be the measure of our relations, because German-American relations are essential,” Mr. Röttgen said. “We should not let the intelligence service stupidities be the measure of our relations because German-American relations are essential,” Mr. Röttgen said.