Greens push Merz to probe Germany’s possible Epstein links

Politico Europe · Feb 27, 2026 · Collected from RSS

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News Politics Berlin politics haven’t been roiled by the Epstein files, but Green party leaders say possible domestic ties still need urgent investigation. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government is being pushed to investigate potential links with the Epstein files, if only to instill confidence in members of the public. | Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty Images February 27, 2026 4:00 am CET BERLIN — Germany’s opposition Greens are pressuring Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government to launch an investigation into potential German links to the Epstein files. The demands come as several other large European countries have set up task forces to investigate ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. While the release of the files has shaken politics in the U.K., France and beyond, German politicians and business leaders remain relatively unscathed. That doesn’t mean an investigation is unwarranted, say the center-left Greens, if only to instill confidence in the public that possible links to Epstein have been fully probed. “It is extremely irritating that while all the other countries around us are taking action, pushing for clarification and taking measures, the German government has so far remained largely indifferent,” Irene Mihalic and Konstantin von Notz, senior lawmakers for the Greens, said in a joint written statement to POLITICO. “The government must take matters into its own hands and do its part to investigate these truly horrific acts — for the sake of the victims, but also for the security interests of our country.” Green party leaders note that Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said earlier this month that Warsaw would investigate whether any links exist between Epstein and Russian secret services, including to establish whether still-active European officials are at risk of blackmail. Tusk called the matter a serious concern “for the security of the Polish state.” The Greens, hawkish on Russia, say Germany should follow Warsaw’s example, including by having domestic intelligence probe the matter. “Investigative mandates or investigative needs are the responsibility of the competent authorities,” Stefan Kornelius, Merz’s spokesperson, said last week in response to a reporter’s question on whether Berlin would launch a special investigation. “In this respect, the federal government has nothing to add to the statements made so far on Epstein.” In response to a yet-to-be published parliamentary inquiry from the Greens seen by POLITICO, the German interior ministry said it was “currently reviewing investigations” related to the Epstein files, and that it “does not comment publicly on measures taken by security authorities.” Conspiracy theories proliferate Green party leaders counter that the German public needs an open investigation in order to counter proliferating online conspiracy theories related to the Epstein files, many of them propagating antisemitic worldviews. There was a “sustained surge” of antisemitic content across major social media platforms following the U.S. Department of Justice’s latest drop of documents related to Epstein and his crimes at the end of January, according to a study by Democ, a Berlin-based nonprofit that researches anti-democratic movements. In Germany, social media accounts associated with the extreme right have “adopted and amplified” such conspiracy theories, the study says. “If you leave it to others to explain and comment, conspiracy theories and narratives will sprout up,” Mihalic and von Notz said in their statement to POLITICO. “The federal government must finally counter such wild and sometimes absurd speculation with decisive and transparent action.” While no high-profile individuals in Germany have been directly connected to Epstein, German companies have been linked to the financier — most notably Deutsche Bank, which counted the convicted sex offender as a client. Germany’s largest bank had said it would cut ties to Epstein at the end of 2018, according to a Reuters report based on U.S. documents, but the institution only cut those ties following Epstein’s arrest in July 2019, the report says. “As repeatedly emphasized since 2020, the bank acknowledges its mistake in accepting Jeffrey Epstein as a client in 2013,” Deutsche Bank said in a statement sent to POLITICO. “Since then, the bank has invested substantially in training, controls, and improving its operational processes, and has significantly strengthened its controls to combat financial crime.” “We deeply regret our business relationship with Epstein at that time.” German lawmakers will discuss calls for an investigation during a Friday parliamentary debate initiated by the Greens.