Press inquiry from 2020News to the German Federal Criminal Police Office, the German Federal Intelligence Service, the Gernan Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the State Criminal Police Office of Lower Saxony.
On the 9th day of proceedings in the criminal trial against Dr. Reiner Fuellmich for breach of trust before the Göttingen Regional Court, the defense read out a “Reiner Fuellmich dossier” dated August 24, 2021, together with current file notes on the ongoing criminal proceedings, allegedly all stemming from the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. These documents allegedly show that Reiner Fuellmich had been under observation by the State Security Service for some time. According to the documents, people close to him were to be recruited. In cooperation with the public prosecutor’s office, charges were to be prepared for demonstrable violations of the law. In this context, there is the puzzling formulation in the dossier: “Any necessary constructions are to be weighed up and suitable third parties recruited”. The aim of all this was allegedly to deprive Reiner Fuellmich of the opportunity to hold political office in the Federal Republic of Germany because of the potentially high penalty.
2020News wants to know what is behind all this. The main questions to be answered first are whether the document is authentic at all, who is responsible and what, if any, of the actions outlined have already been implemented.
Today, 2020news therefore sent a list of questions to the aforementioned institutions via Attorney at Law Viviane Fischer with the following content:
“Dear Sir or Madam,
This is a press inquiry for 2020News and a request under the Freedom of Information Act on the subject of the “Dossier Attorney at Law Dr. Reiner Fuellmich”. Proper authorization is assured.
The defense lawyer Dr. Christoph Miseré read out the attached text in the public hearing in the criminal proceedings against Dr. Reiner Fuellmich before the 5th Grand Commercial Criminal Chamber at the Göttingen Regional Court on April 2, 2024 from documents that he apparently considered to be authentic. The documents in the attached form have been copied and published by the Swiss media portal Roger Bittel with his own watermark.
In accordance with press law, information is now requested as to whether such documents (dossier together with supplementary file notes) with the content in question exist in your institution and by whom, in which department and on whose instructions they were created. Are there any other records relating to Dr. Reiner Fuellmich? What is their nature?
If the documents in question exist, we request answers on the following further questions; please provide us with any documents on the subject in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act:
- The attached document contains the following wording on page 1: “Fuellmich initiated and supported several legal actions and lawsuits in Germany and other countries with the aim of having the legality and proportionality of the measures taken to combat the pandemic reviewed by the courts.” Which lawsuits initiated by Dr. Reiner Fuellmich himself in other countries are you aware of?
- The attached document states on page 2: “One notable area of his work is his involvement in legal disputes in connection with the diesel scandal. Fuellmich represented the interests of consumers who were harmed by the manipulation of emissions values in diesel vehicles.” Which specific lawsuits concerning the diesel scandal pursued by Dr. Reiner Fuellmich are known to your office (file number)?
- On page 6 of the attached document, the following wording is found: “The recruitment and consultation of persons of trust from Reiner Fuellmich’s closest environment is recommended.” Were such trusted persons recruited and consulted? If so, when? Who were they? When, how and by whom did your company communicate with these potential confidants? What activities were undertaken by the persons of trust recruited and what were the results?
- The attached document contains the following wording on page 7: “The initiation of criminal proceedings on the basis of the evidence collected against Reiner Fuellmich must be prepared. This includes cooperation with public prosecutors and the preparation of charges in the event of demonstrable violations of the law. Any necessary constructions must be weighed up and suitable third parties recruited.” Has your office cooperated with public prosecutors with this objective? Who is involved on your side in this respect? What (legal) “constructions” have been planned or implemented?
- The attached document states on page 7: “The development of a strategy to inform the public about the risks and negative effects of Reiner Fuellmich’s actions is essential.” Has such a strategy been developed? Who in your company was involved in the development of such a strategy? What does the strategy look like in concrete terms and how has it been implemented? Who is involved in its implementation at your institution and at any cooperating institutions? Which media have been involved online and/or offline? How and by whom were they acquired?
I look forward to your prompt reply by Friday, April 5, 2024, 2 p.m., to confirm whether the content of the attached documents is authentic and originates from your institution. With regard to the subsequent questions, please reply by Wednesday, 10.04.2024, 2 pm.
Should costs be incurred, I hereby agree to bear them.
Yours sincerely,
signed Attorney at Law Viviane Fischer”
