German comedian accused of ‘approval of’ Trump murdering act
(MENAFN) German comedian Sebastian Hotz has been formally charged with endorsing violence after making a controversial joke on X (formerly Twitter) about the recent assassination attempt on US President Donald Trump.
In a now-deleted post, Hotz likened the July 13, 2024 shooting at a Trump rally to narrowly missing a bus, writing: “You sadly just missed it.” Defending his comment, he later stated: “I think it’s fantastic when fascists die. No one is obligated to feel sorry for fascists — you can simply choose not to, without consequence.”
A Berlin court spokesperson confirmed to Der Spiegel on Saturday that Hotz has been charged under Section 140 of Germany’s Criminal Code, which prohibits the “rewarding and approval of offenses.” If convicted, he faces up to three years in prison. His trial is scheduled to begin on July 23.
In the wake of public outrage, broadcaster RBB severed ties with Hotz, while ARD Kultur canceled an upcoming event with him. In response, Hotz aired a satirical mockumentary titled I’m Sorry, Mr. President on another network.
The July shooting occurred during a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where the president’s ear was grazed by a bullet and one attendee was killed. The shooter was fatally shot by Secret Service agents.
The incident has fueled ongoing accusations between US political factions: Trump and Republicans blame Democrats for fostering hostility toward conservatives, while Democrats argue Trump’s rhetoric has escalated tensions.
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