Equally burdened – Schmid: ‘I don’t want to be the pawn sacrifice’

He was asked about 15 topics. He covered six new topics. Reading the interrogation protocols, it sounds like someone is trying to get leniency status. Whatever he wants. Thomas Schmid agrees to assume responsibility for all allegations from the outset, confirms the WKStA’s suspicions and announces that he will reveal details.

On the “Faktum Beinschab/Austria” (decorated studies in the sense of Sebastian Kurz, published in Fellner’s media); to the “wolf of fact” (the investor would have received special tax benefits), or to the “suspicion of false statements by Kurz/Bonelli” (the former chancellor and his chief of staff would not have told the truth before the Ibizan Commission of Inquiry). Particular attention is paid to the embellished studies.

Advertisements placed, topics set?
Causa Investigations: Schmid has also sued former Kurz confidant and communications expert Gerald Fleischmann. Knowing that the Treasury Department’s advertisements should not be placed or paid for by the ÖVP for election campaign purposes, the ministry has placed ads in all media around the 2017 election campaign, Fleischmann said these would be “booked shortly”. “By that he meant that Kurz could indicate in return which topics and which media attention were placed in the media group Austria.”

As a reminder, these circuits and studies were financed by the Treasury, that is, by the taxpayer. Kurz was clear about that too. According to Schmid, another confidant of Kurz, Johannes Frischmann, was very involved with the “Bein Scraper Tool” and he, Schmid, assigned him this task. Another employee, Johannes Pasquali, was later responsible for placing advertisements. The fact that Kurz did not communicate directly with Schmid on this matter was due to security concerns.

Kurz would have asked about takedowns
Schmid, who claims to have done all emails and all work via cell phone, reports that those involved were very nervous after the home of former Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache (FPÖ) was searched. There was no other subject. “That was the reason for me to delete my phone or factory reset the phone.”

Schmid also tells the detectives about a conversation with Kurz when he wanted to know if the chats about Beinschab in particular had been removed. Overall, Schmid says he identified the “leg scraper tool” with Kurz. With that he delivers another incriminating piece against the former chancellor. Gernot Blümel, then number 2 of the ÖVP, had nothing to do with these activities. You also wanted to keep it small. “It was a story that was meant to be ‘between the two of us’. (…) The conversation with Kurz was the starting point for me. For me it was an order from the future boss and I was full of energy.”

Legshab of Karmasin in the game?
Schmid promptly approached Sophie Karmasin. The pollster, who later also became the focus of the researchers through the investigations. Charges are being prepared against them. Just like everyone else, the presumption of innocence applies to them.

Karmasin had already conducted “doctoral studies” for Werner Faymann (SPÖ), now this should have been done in the sense of Kurz. Karmasin was then still Minister of Family Affairs and, according to Schmid, proposed to appoint Sabine Beinschab. Karmasin himself wanted to return to business and had shown great interest in the studies, but generally aimed for a position at the Institute for Advanced Studies.

Billing was partly done in “waves”, as an example in the file shows. About advertisements from the end of July 2016 about travel/customs. Costs 116,000 euros.

Studies against ads?
Schmid: “With regard to the system in general, I would like to say again that it has been agreed with ‘Austria’ that they would conduct investigations and have access to the Ministry of Finance for this. Treasury access means money through lists. The Fellners were definitely interested in the money for these ads, and the content of the ads was irrelevant.”

No knowledge of Novomatic
Schmid cannot contribute to the cause of tax relief for the Novomatic gaming group (this is where Gernot Blümel came into the picture). Not even a deal with the FPÖ – a board position for the Blues in exchange for Schmid on the board of the state holding company ÖBAG.

Sobotka taxed
The current chairman of the National Council, Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP), is also being indicted. He successfully intervened with the then Secretary General of the Treasury Department that a planned tax audit at the Alois Mock Institute would not take place. Sobotka is also being investigated (for abuse of office). The presumption of innocence also applies here.

“Clap for leniency”
Werner Suppan, Sebastian Kurz’s lawyer, says Schmid’s allegations are false. “By blaming and blaming everyone, he hopes to get leniency. His allegations are false and that will be proven.”

ÖVP Secretary General Christian Stocker argued similarly. Schmid’s statements were not subject to a duty of truth. The WKStA will now have to determine which of the statements will be substantiated.