Germany sacks top prosecutor in row over treason inquiry

BERLIN, (Reuters) – Germany’s government sacked the top public prosecutor yesterday after he accused the justice ministry of interfering in a widely criticised treason investigation against a news website.

Prosecutor Harald Range last week suspended the investigation into netzpolitik.org while he awaited an independent expert opinion on whether the website had revealed state secrets by publishing plans to step up state surveillance of online communications.

Privacy is an especially sensitive issue in Germany after the extensive surveillance by Communist East Germany’s Stasi secret police and by the Gestapo in the Nazi era.

Justice Minister Heiko Maas said last week that it was important to defend the independence of the press, adding he doubted whether the publication of the documents would endanger Germany.

In a rare clash between the state and judiciary, Maas said on Tuesday he no longer trusted Range after his accusations of political interference and his decision to go public.