Overview

• The Cologne prosecutor’s office has initiated an investigation into Anne Brorhilker, former lead investigator of the Cum-Ex tax fraud probe, over allegations of breaching official secrecy.
• The case was transferred to the Aachen prosecutor’s office to ensure impartiality due to Brorhilker’s prior role within the Cologne office.
• The investigation stems from claims by crown witness Kai-Uwe Steck, who alleges Brorhilker shared internal details in March 2021, which later appeared in a Süddeutsche Zeitung article.
• The Bonn regional court has requested related case files, leading to a temporary pause in the investigation while the court conducts its review.
• Brorhilker, who resigned from her position in 2024 and joined Finanzwende, has strongly denied the allegations, disputing Steck's testimony as false.