Reuters, Berlin :
Germany’s top public prosecutor closed a year-long investigation into the suspected tapping of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cell phone by U.S. spies, saying there was a lack of evidence that would stand up in court.
Dropping its probe in a case that had caused strains between Germany and the United States, the prosecutor said it could not find evidence backing allegations from former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden that Merkel’s phone was bugged.
“The accusations made would not stand up in court with the means available for criminal proceedings,” the federal prosecutors office in Karlsruhe said in a statement.
“The vague remarks from U.S. officials about U.S. intelligence surveillance of the chancellor’s cell phone – i.e. ‘not any more’ – are insufficient evidence”.
Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert declined to comment on the prosecutor dropping the probe. “The federal prosecutor has made his decision,” he said. “Such a decision should not be commented on by the government.”
The two countries have been at odds over the NSA spying habits since Snowden’s revelations last year showed the United States had listened in on many of its allies, including Merkel.
Germany’s top public prosecutor closed a year-long investigation into the suspected tapping of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cell phone by U.S. spies, saying there was a lack of evidence that would stand up in court.
Dropping its probe in a case that had caused strains between Germany and the United States, the prosecutor said it could not find evidence backing allegations from former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden that Merkel’s phone was bugged.
“The accusations made would not stand up in court with the means available for criminal proceedings,” the federal prosecutors office in Karlsruhe said in a statement.
“The vague remarks from U.S. officials about U.S. intelligence surveillance of the chancellor’s cell phone – i.e. ‘not any more’ – are insufficient evidence”.
Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert declined to comment on the prosecutor dropping the probe. “The federal prosecutor has made his decision,” he said. “Such a decision should not be commented on by the government.”
The two countries have been at odds over the NSA spying habits since Snowden’s revelations last year showed the United States had listened in on many of its allies, including Merkel.
