Court clears former German president of corruption

A German court on Thursday cleared former president Christian Wulff of corruption charges that sprang from allegations that he had accepted bribes in exchange for political favors. Judge Frank Rosenow informed the court of Wulff’s acquittal, saying that there was insufficient proof that the former president had accepted illegal payments. Wulff, who has insisted on his innocence since his resignation in 2012, chose to clear his name at trial rather than settle out of court. Prosecutors argued that Wulff, who was premier of the state of Lower Saxony at the time of the alleged offense, allowed a filmmaker to pay for his hotel stay and meals during a visit to the Oktoberfest beer festival in 2008, amounting to about 719 euros, and that he agreed to lobby to provide financial support for a film in exchange. The favors that led to the corruption charges were accepted two years before he began his 20-month presidential term.