Lawmakers question German poll front-runner over searches

BERLIN (AP) — Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, the front-runner in Germany's election, appeared before lawmakers during the final week of campaigning on Monday to face questions over an investigation of an anti-money-laundering unit that resulted in a recent police search at his ministry.

Scholz and his Social Democrats have raised questions over the necessity and motivation of the Sept. 9 searches at his ministry and the justice ministry, which also is run by his center-left party. Outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right Union bloc, which polls show trailing by a few points before Sunday's election, has seized on the searches and on Scholz's reaction to assail the candidate.

Opposition parties called a special meeting of parliament's finance committee to discuss the matter. Following criticism over reports that he likely would only testify by video link, Scholz appeared in person, but was still expected to make it to two of three planned campaign appearances in southwestern Germany.

Investigators are looking into suspected obstruction of justice by unidentified employees of the Financial Intelligence Unit, or FIU, a unit of Germany's customs service. They say they have been investigating since last year because indications of possible money laundering from banks to the FIU weren’t passed on to police and judicial authorities.

The finance ministry ultimately oversees the unit, and says the suspicion of wrongdoing isn't directed against its own employees. It says Scholz has reinforced the FIU since becoming finance minister in 2018, and that its head was replaced that year.

After what he called a “very lively” meeting, Scholz strongly defended his work.

“I took the opportunity to explain once again that the last three years were probably the best years for the...