AfD MP resigns after fraud allegations
Klaus Esser is set to have two university degrees in law. However, there is no evidence of this in their records. Under pressure, the North Rhine-Westphalian AfD state parliamentarian has resigned from his positions. He stated that he is stepping down from his posts immediately to avoid harm to the party and faction, while continuing his work in the state parliament.
The North Rhine-Westphalian AfD state parliamentarian, Klaus Esser, has stepped down from his positions in the party and faction leadership. He cited the desire to prevent harm to the party and faction, while continuing his work in the state parliament.
"These are allegations that go back several years. I am being politically and existentially destroyed, and our successful state branch is being destabilized," Esser wrote in a statement. He claimed that the allegations were "prepared and deliberately leaked to the press by destructive individuals within our party." Esser declined to comment on the specific allegations, citing ongoing investigations and invoking the presumption of innocence.
The public prosecutor's office in Aachen confirmed that preliminary investigations have been initiated against Esser. Two criminal complaints have been filed. Esser stated that he will cooperate with the authorities to clarify the allegations.
Two Universities, No Evidence
According to the "Rheinische Post" from Düsseldorf, the politician is accused of falsifying large parts of his curriculum vitae. It is alleged that the 43-year-old claimed to be a lawyer and to have passed the first state exam. The University of Cologne confirmed that Esser had begun studying law but found no evidence that he had continued after the first exam and the intermediate exam.
Similarly, the situation at the University of Hagen. According to the report, Esser claimed in his application documents to have obtained a master's degree in law at the university. However, this could not be verified: Klaus Esser "has not taken a master's exam in law and has not obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree at the University of Hagen," a spokesperson said.
Despite the allegations of falsifying parts of his curriculum vitae, including claims of holding two law degrees from the Universities of Cologne and Hagen, Klaus Esser, a former member of the AfD, maintains his innocence. The universities have found no evidence to support his claims of completing his studies beyond the initial exams.
