The confidant of ex-chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP), Gerald Fleischmann, resigned on Thursday from the ÖVP’s corruption investigation committee. He referred to the ongoing investigations by the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (WKStA) against him. He didn’t even want to answer questions from the investigating judge about his exact job profile as deputy chief of staff.
The discussion about the admissibility of the first question from SPÖ party chairman Jan Krainer alone lasted more than fifteen minutes. Krainer wanted to know if Fleischmann, who now works in the VP club, had access to files from the Commission of Inquiry. After a short conversation with his confidant Klaus Ainedter, Fleischmann repeatedly referred to a decision by the Federal Administrative Court, according to which general questions could lead to criminal prosecution. He told Krainer, “I’m a person who likes to make people happy.” But Krainer had to admit that he was pushing for his rights.
Even the investigating judge got impatient
After clarifying the question, he said he “didn’t have access through a search mask”. If he had one, he certainly didn’t use it. He can’t remember if he talked to anyone about it. Judge Christa Edwards initially said, “I’ll have to try to mediate.” After the first hour, her tone became sharper. She advised Fleischmann to answer the question, otherwise it would be tantamount to refusing to testify.
Fleischmann aroused further resentment when he refused to answer the following question: whether he had discussed the committee before his questioning with National Council chairman Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP), who also chaired the U-Committee that day. After further discussion, he replied. There was general talk about the U-Committee, but nothing secret.
No statements due to ongoing proceedings
Fleischmann had invoked his right to refuse to testify from the outset, making it clear that he would act “categorically and comprehensively”. The WKStA is conducting “almost the same procedure” in which he is the suspect. The accusation is justified with a few chats. He complained that he had not been questioned to date and at the same time was confident that his investigation will eventually be closed.
The current employee in the ÖVP club downplayed his former role from the start, saying he was only concentrating on his duties as a press spokesperson. The investigating judge immediately picked up on this and asked Fleischmann that he was only a press spokesperson until 2017, after which he was head of the media department. When asked what he had done in that capacity, he referred to the ongoing investigation and decided not to answer.
Source: Krone
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