Prosecutors Drop Investigation Against Steimle

The Dessau-Roßlau public prosecutor’s office has dropped its investigation into comedian Uwe Steimle for derogatory remarks about Chancellor Friedrich Merz and former Chancellor Angela Merkel (both CDU) during an AfD event in mid-July in Dessau-Roßlau. “After concluding the investigation and evaluating the statements, there was insufficient grounds to establish reasonable suspicion against Mr. Steimle,” a spokeswoman for the public prosecutor’s office stated in response to an inquiry. 

Previously, Steimle’s attorney, Peter-Michael Diestel, had announced the dismissal of the investigation and stated: “In consultation with my client, I would like to announce that Mr. Uwe Steimle will continue his artistic work undeterred, but will now be able to sleep better.”

The public prosecutor’s office had launched an investigation under Section 126 of the Criminal Code. This pertains to the disturbance of public peace through threats of criminal offenses. Steimle himself had rejected the allegations after the investigation became public.