German ex-lawmaker faces child porn charges

BERLIN (AP) — A prominent former German lawmaker has been charged with possessing child pornographic photos and videos.

Prosecutors in Hannover said Thursday that Sebastian Edathy is accused of downloading child pornographic images and videos on his parliamentary laptop last November and of possessing other material deemed to be “youth pornography,” a term used when children aged 14 or over are involved.

Edathy, a member of the center-left junior party in Germany’s government, resigned his seat in February, days before police searched his home and offices. The case centers on the alleged ordering of images of underage boys.

Edathy has denied any wrongdoing.

Edathy was a rising star in his party before German elections last year. He chaired a parliamentary committee that investigated a string of killings by a far-right group.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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