August 20 – Switzerland has dropped impeachment proceedings against Michael Lauber after the attorney general agreed to quit office early amid persisting accusations of misconduct during an investigation into FIFA.
Lauber has been the subject of intense scrutiny over his controversial meetings with FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, but the Swiss parliament will end the impeachment process against him, now that Lauber announced he is stepping down. With his exit, Lauber prevents himself from becoming the first the first attorney general to be deposed in Switzerland. His departure prompted parliament, which had opened proceedings in May, to end the process.
In June, Lauber had already revealed his was leaving his post under mounting pressure after a court ruled that he had covered up a meeting with Infantino. The court also concluded that Lauber had lied to his supervisors while being investigated.
Lauber was the first federal prosecutor to be directly elected by parliament. After spending a decade in Liechtenstein’s financial world in various roles, Lauber became Switzerland’s most ‘powerful’ prosecutor in 2012.
He met current FIFA president Infantino three times behind closed-doors, while investigating suspected corruption involving the world governing body. While Lauber will not now face impeachment proceedings he has previously been disciplined for serious ethical breaches and his wages were reduced by 8%.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1713878427labto1713878427ofdlr1713878427owedi1713878427sni@o1713878427fni1713878427