BSI affair surrounding Schönbohm: Defeat expected in court for ZDF & Böhmermann

A broadcast of "ZDF Neo Royale" in October 2022 led to the dismissal of the then President of the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), Arne Schönbohm. According to a preliminary assessment by the Munich Regional Court, Schönbohm was proven right on the key points: the reporting by Jan Böhmermann and ZDF was false and did not meet journalistic standards. Focus, among others, writes this. The verdict is to be announced on November 28.

In the program, Böhmermann had claimed that Schönbohm had connections to Russian secret services. The whole thing had far-reaching consequences for Schönbohm. After the program was broadcast, Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser suspended him. Disciplinary proceedings followed, but specific allegations against him could not be confirmed. In the months following the broadcast, Schönbohm was transferred to the Academy for Public Administration. Schönbohm then filed a lawsuit and demanded 100,000 euros in damages from ZDF.

Schönbohm's lawyer criticized the ZDF editorial team and emphasized that the programme had resulted in negative headlines and an unlawful suspension for his client. The amount in dispute was put at 205,000 euros. According to Focus, ZDF's lawyers say that freedom of the press would be at risk if the broadcaster had to pay the sum. In addition, the broadcaster believes that its reporting was correct and that the decision to suspend Schönbohm was the responsibility of the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI). However, the Munich judges see things differently.

In the summer of 2023, Schönbohm had also sued the BMI before the Cologne Administrative Court for breach of duty of care. Faeser described the criticism from the CDU/CSU regarding her dealings with Schönbohm as "theatrical thunder".

(mack)