Overview
- The councillor resigned his mandate and left the AfD this week after the Hannover public prosecutor opened an investigation into suspected procurement and possession of child‑pornographic material.
- Prosecutors say the case began with a tip from the United States in February 2024 that was routed through child‑protection channels and flagged by automated security software when files were uploaded to a private cloud.
- Investigators searched the man’s home in April 2024 and seized digital storage devices for forensic analysis.
- The forensic review, completed in March 2026 according to prosecutors, identified a small, single‑digit number of files that could be child pornography and the office says the probe remains active while the presumption of innocence applies.
- The AfD Niedersachsen has publicly distanced itself and called for the legal process to run its course; next steps include continued prosecutor work and a possible charge decision that could affect the accused’s legal status and personal life.