Former BSI President Arne Schönbohm levels serious accusations against ZDF Intendant Norbert Himmler. The latter bears responsibility for the consequences of the “ZDF Magazin Royale” episode, which cost Schönbohm his job as President of the Federal Office for Information Security in Technology (BSI), he told the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” (Saturday edition).
The impression arose through moderator Jan Böhmermann’s statements that Schönbohm might have contacts with Russian intelligence services. Himmler failed to fulfill his duty of supervision, Schönbohm said, and demanded consequences. “If one accuses the president of a national security agency of such things during the Russian attack war, one can already think that he doesn’t have his affairs in order.”
Himmler should explain “what he does to ensure this does not happen again.” Schönbohm also said the ZDF failed to meet its obligations: “I’m concerned about the public broadcasting service, which receives nine billion a year. I expect a certain quality, and it was not guaranteed here.”
The Munich Regional Court had partly ruled in Schönbohm’s favor in his lawsuit against the ZDF, banning the broadcaster from making four of the five criticized statements about Schönbohm. However, it rejected his demand for a 100,000-euro compensation.
He had never had deliberate contact with Russian intelligence services, Schönbohm told the SZ. Despite this, he was transferred by Innenministerin Nancy Faeser (SPD) due to a ZDF episode that suggested so. Today, he heads the smaller Federal Academy for Public Administration. “This ZDF episode endangered Germany’s security; it should not have been broadcast at all” Schönbohm said. “In the Middle Ages, there was a pillory; today, there is Jan Böhmermann.”
Schönbohm said he received death threats after the broadcast. The ZDF stated that it had “repeatedly pointed out, both in the context of the court proceedings and beyond, that the program of October 7, 2022, did not claim such connections, neither directly nor indirectly.” Jan Böhmermann reaffirmed on Thursday that he stands behind his team’s research on Schönbohm. It is still unknown whether Schönbohm or the ZDF will appeal the verdict.