Arrest of ex-BND chief August Hanning: Konstantin von Notz demands clarification

After the arrest of former BND chief August Hanning, intelligence controller Konstantin von Notz (Alliance 90/The Greens) appeared shocked. "This is an iron-hard and unfathomable story, we expect a rapid and complete clarification of the outrageous allegations that are being made against the ex-BND boss Hanning," the member of the Bundestag's Parliamentary Control Committee told SPIEGEL.

Von Notz demanded that the federal government clarify any “intelligence damage that may have arisen” as a result of the betrayal of official secrets as quickly as possible. Former BND President August Hanning was arrested on Tuesday morning on suspicion of espionage. In addition to Hanning, a former close colleague of his who was still working for the foreign secret service after Hanning's departure was also arrested. According to the investigation, Hanning is said to have illegally obtained and passed on secret BND information for years after the end of his civil service career.

Von Notz emphasized that he had long been calling for the private business of former intelligence service heads to be restricted after their term in office. After his time at the BND, Hanning worked as a consultant and lobbyist for various companies. “We have been criticizing the dubious and diverse lobbying activities of former top officials and the highest secret keepers in the Federal Republic for years,” said von Notz. Such jobs are “a gateway for opposing secret services.”

Specifically, the intelligence expert called for former secret keepers like Hanning to be banned from such activities after their term in office. “The federal government must stop these illegitimate practices immediately,” said von Notz. In addition to Hanning, other former employees from the BND's management level now work as freelance consultants.