The Axel Springer Press Group announced this Monday the resignation of Julian Reichelt, editor-in-chief of the German newspaper Bild, who was accused of “misbehaving” in a romantic relationship with another journalist of the most widely read media in the country.
“Recent press investigations have uncovered new evidence of Julian Reichelt’s misconduct,” the group said in a statement.
Tabloid officials have already launched an investigation into the 41-year-old journalist suspected of promoting women he has had sex with. At the time, he “admitted to mixing professional and personal relationships, but denied” any harassment, said the group that kept him in power.
However, the head of Axel Springer said that “it was clear that Julian Reichelt still does not clearly distinguish between private and professional issues, and that he lied about this to the board of directors.”
Germany’s most widely read newspaper did not reveal the “wrong” facts attributed to its editor-in-chief, a controversial figure in the journalistic world. The dismissal could have been influenced by an investigation by The New York Times published on Sunday. According to an American newspaper, Reichelt promoted the young journalist, with whom he had a romantic relationship, to an important position. “If they find out I’m having an affair with an intern, I’ll lose my job,” Julian Reichelt told a young woman in November 2016, according to reports from a journalist to the Internal Commission of Inquiry.
Reichelt will be succeeded by Johannes Boye, formerly editor-in-chief of the conservative weekly Welt am Sonntag.
