By Martin Banks - 17th September 2007
Parliamentary bosses today confirmed that a Spanish MEP is being investigated for alleged misuse of his staff allowances.
David Hammerstein Mintz, a member of the Green party, is the subject of a probe by Olaf, the EU anti-fraud office.
The allegations, made by a former female assistant of the deputy, date back nearly 18 months. Details of the case appeared in the Spanish media last week.
It is claimed that he misused part of the annual €14,000 allowance to which all MEPs are entitled to claim to cover staff salaries.
However, Mintz told this website on Tuesday that he “totally refutes” the allegations.
“I have been subjected to a public lynching without any evidence against me,” he said.
A parliament spokesman said the Olaf report had now been passed to the assembly’s secretary general, Harald Romer.
“Romer will consult the finance director general before sending the report to the bureau for its consideration,” he said.
If the allegations are proven, he said the MEP would have to reimburse parliament. However, parliament does not have the power to suspend or expel and MEP- this is a matter for national authorities.
Hammerstein Mintz said, “These allegations are totally false and not a single euro has been misspent. Everything went on staff salaries, nowhere else."
“I also want to stress that, though I was interviewed by Olaf about five months ago, I have not even seen this report.
"I requested a copy from parliament’s secretary-general but he refused to let me see it. Other than what I have read in the press, I do not really know what I am supposed to have done wrong.”
The MEP, who currently employs three staff in his Brussels office, has now written to parliament’s president, Hans-Gert Poettering, requesting access to the report.
A Green party spokesman declined to comment.
Born in Los Angeles, Hammerstein Mintz is a member of the committee on industry and research.
He has also been shortlisted for his parliamentary work at the upcoming annual MEP awards ceremony in October.
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