The case against the former head of German Intelligence, August Hanning, is seriously sketchy.
Hanning, 80, was arrested in Bad Toelz-Wolfratshausen in southern Germany. His former Chief of Staff, Manfred D., was also arrested Tuesday in Steinfurt in western Germany and has been charged with aiding and abetting attempted treason and treasonous espionage.
Police were investigating Hanning in 2025 in relation to his involvement in organizing a kidnapping plot. When police searched his residence, they found documents outlining his activity in receiving state secrets from inside German intelligence and selling classified analysis to a foreign government (not Russia).
Apparently when Hanning left as head of German intelligence, his chief of staff “Manfred” remained at work. Manfred then continued to give Hanning information from inside German intelligence, which Hanning then used to sell his services to foreign enterprises.
The information Manfred gave Hanning related to intelligence on Russia and Iran that Germany gathered from partnerships with the USA and Israel. In essence, Hanning was selling 5-eyes secret intelligence on Russia and Iran, to foreign interests. Hanning was receiving the intelligence from Manfred, his former chief of staff.
GERMANY – A former German spy chief was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of espionage and treason, an embarrassing case at a time when the country is seeking to broaden the powers of its intelligence agencies.
August Hanning, who ran Germany’s BND foreign intelligence agency from 1998 to 2005, is accused of espionage, treason and working for foreign intelligence services, federal prosecutors said.
They did not say which foreign powers were involved. However, AFP understands it was not Russia.
The news magazine Spiegel, citing unnamed sources, reported that Hanning had been in contact with an intelligence operative for Azerbaijan.
Hanning’s former chief of staff, partially named as Manfred D. who continued working for the spy agency until March 2026, was also arrested.
He is accused of obtaining classified information while working for Hanning’s successors and selling them to his former boss, who was working as a private sector consultant.
Hanning then allegedly used the information in his private consulting work, which included preparing a briefing for a foreign spy and passing information to an agent of another foreign intelligence service, prosecutors said.
[…] According to prosecutors, Manfred D. provided Hanning with approximately 2,000 documents, many with classified information.
Hanning — who served as the top civil servant in the interior ministry from 2005-2009 — used classified intelligence “to draft an analysis for an officer of a foreign intelligence service”, although it is not clear if “the material reached the intended recipient”.
He is also accused of being “in close contact with a representative of another foreign intelligence service, to whom he passed on political information, partially based on material provided by Manfred D., for several years”.
According to the ARD broadcaster, the information that Manfred D. passed on included material on the Iranian nuclear programme and the Russian army.
It quoted security sources as saying some of the information came from partner intelligence agencies abroad. (read more)
These are the German intelligence units currently selling the Russian “hybrid attack” stories.
These are the German intelligence units who previously created the Russian interference narrative used to annul the Romanian election victory of Călin Georgescu, a nationalist who campaigned against the European Union.
This is the conduct of “German Intelligence.”
Comrade Suspicious Cat remains, well, increasingly suspicious.
100% BS as noted.
Cui bono? Is he attached to someone in AfD somehow?
😒
When they caught Hanning’s chief of staff…
That Manfred man…
He claimed he was ‘Blinded by the light!’ 🙂
Another runner in the night.
Here is a link to the lyrics…
https://genius.com/Manfred-manns-earth-band-blinded-by-the-light-lyrics
I wish our DOJ could arrest our current and former high level gov’t gangsters.
IKR
You’re pretty bold with using a plural. Let’s start with baby steps and see if they can get one gangster.
and try them for treason and seditious conspiracy – there, I finished it for you! 🙂
They are preparing to execute the Ft. Hood Muslim murderer by firing squad, we can hope that portends things to come for the high level treasonous traitors in government.
I believe every monster who does not choose to take the cowards way out, will be held accountable.
NO WAY to do so with or current Judiciary Branch of Government. Nearly every one of those scoundrels would get off with nary a blemish.
They must be tried in Military Courts, and when found Guilty, Justice MUST come swift and hard!
I’m increasingly suspicious too but the government officials aren’t in Germany.
Quite a nice touch that….
A Russian blue moggie 😎
He’s so good looking!
😻
I noticed that too sis!!
Sundance doesn’t miss a thing!
🤗😼
No he does not.
This is the retirement plan for just about every single CIA and FBI employee.
Anti-AfD battle space prep.
So Hanning and his inside man Manfred worked together to leak intelligence. Manfred provided the intel and Hanning picked up the money, to split it with Manfred. Hanning left in 2005, so this has probably been going on for 20 years.
Why the arrests now? Have Hanning/Manfred outlived their usefulness? Do they want too much money to keep quiet? Something’s hinky.
They must have missed a couple of kickback payments.
This is so vague and so easily media-manipulatable that I’m not sure I’ll end up believing anything about it.
Here’s all we really know: Two former German government officials were arrested by the current German government.
Hanning is 80 years old, he could have been turned by the Russians decades ago, prior to German reunification. Hell, Puten may even have been this guy’s handler, back in the day, when he worked East Germany. Azerbaijan may simply be acting as a cutout for Russian intel.
But, there is no telling what the hell is going on, without more details and, what few details we get, may simply be a cover story.
Russia, Russia, Russia. We have seen that movie plot before.
Especially when it’s really China China China.
Hmmm, was he communicating with muzz Valerie Jared?… was there a Mrs Clooney at the table? /s
If God lets me live to 80, then I hope it’s so I can enjoy years of leisure, peace, and happiness. I wonder who he was selling to, that it seemed so much more worthwhile than enjoying retirement.