MEP Krah accessed ‘sensitive’ documents, says chair of European Parliament’s trade committee – POLITICO

Lange denied that Krah’s office retrieved documents with the “restricted” classification level through the trade committee. The “limited/sensitive” classification refers to sensitive content that is not necessarily subject to confidentiality.

“Maximilian Krah has never received documents restricted by the EU” in the trade committee, Lange said. But Lange said the extent of the scandal was still unclear.

“It’s really disappointing that we don’t have clear facts or names from the attorney or the Secret Service,” Lange said. “This creates a situation of distrust and uncertainty.”

German prosecutors in the city of Dresden earlier this week opened preliminary investigations into Krah over corruption allegations involving Russia and China. Before that, German police arrested one of Krah’s parliamentary aides, identified as Jian G., on Monday, accused of spying for China.

The Federal Attorney General accuses Jian G. of passing internal information to the European Parliament to China. This activity most recently included information on a proposed resolution directed against China’s persecution of minorities such as Uyghurs and Tibetans, according to German media outlet WELT. Jian G., a German citizen born in China, is currently in detention. He was fired by Krah after the allegations came to light.

Krah told the Süddeutsche Zeitung that an investigation he initiated revealed that Jian G. did not have access to classified documents.

The Human Rights Subcommittee, of which Krah is also a member, is also investigating whether any information could have been obtained. Subcommittee Chairman Udo Bullmann said Krah had hardly been active on the panel. “As far as I know, he never received sensitive information during my tenure nor did he ask for it. But of course our secretariat has already started to double-check and triple-check the information,” Bullmann said on Saturday.

On Friday, Terry Reintke and Philippe Lamberts, leaders of the Greens/EU group, sent a letter to the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, calling for a thorough internal investigation.