Stuttgart (dpa / lsw) – Interior Minister Thomas Strobl still sees himself absolutely right in the so-called letter affair – even if he wants to pay a fine of 15,000 euros to end his proceedings. “I am firmly convinced that I have not committed a crime, that I am innocent,” said the CDU politician on Friday before the committee of inquiry on the subject. He is confident that a court would have ruled in his favor in the end if there had been a court hearing. That can also be underpinned by legal expertise, said Strobl.

However, he accepted the prosecutor’s offer in order to avoid a lengthy procedure. That would be a burden for the state government, the coalition, and him personally. Now, as Minister of the Interior, he can turn his attention to more important matters.