The director of Rundfunkfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (RBB), Patricia Schlesinger, has launched an “independent investigation”. This is preceded by allegations that the online business magazine Business Insider had raised against her. These “are clothed in a mixture of assumptions, insinuations and false conclusions,” says Patricia Schlesinger in a statement by ARD on Thursday. Greatest possible transparency is now required. “We therefore asked the auditors and the compliance officer of the RBB on Wednesday to subject the issues addressed in the reporting to a comprehensive examination as quickly as possible and, if necessary, to also consult external expertise”. An external law firm will be involved.
At the same time, the RBB is also examining legal steps against incorrect and distorting forms of reporting. The online business magazine Business Insider claims to have uncovered an “explosive consultancy contract” between Messe Berlin and Patricia Schlesinger’s husband. In another article, the magazine claims to have found out that consulting contracts for the construction of the new RBB digital media house were not awarded in accordance with the regulations. Alleged, regular dinners with catering service in Schlesinger’s private apartment with guests from politics, business and culture, for which RBB is said to have paid, were also discussed Business Insider.
Some claims are wrong, others “an amalgamation of wrong assumptions and correspondingly incorrect conclusions,” said the RBB on Wednesday the SZ. “We seek dialogue in order to counter mistrust and false suspicions,” said Patricia Schlesinger on Thursday.