Ex-VW CEO Winterkorn Challenges Judge's Impartiality in Diesel Scandal Trial

Winterkorn's defense questions the neutrality of the presiding judge after trial dates were set before a health evaluation was completed.

Former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn has filed a motion to disqualify the judge in his diesel emissions scandal trial, citing concerns over impartiality.
The defense argues that the judge prematurely scheduled the trial for February 2025, with 89 planned sessions, before receiving the results of a court-ordered health assessment of Winterkorn.
A medical report concluded that while Winterkorn is technically fit to travel, attending full court days in Braunschweig is currently deemed unreasonable due to his condition.
Winterkorn faces charges of commercial fraud, market manipulation, and making false statements under oath, all of which he denies; the trial's restart now remains uncertain.
The original trial, which began in September 2024, was postponed after Winterkorn sustained injuries requiring hospitalization.