Qatargate judge Michel Claise steps down

Michel Claise, the Belgian judge leading the European Parliament corruption probe, announced Monday he will step down from the ongoing investigation known as Qatargate, according to a statement from the Belgian prosecutor’s office.

“As a precautionary measure, and in order to allow justice to pursue its work in serenity and maintain the necessary separation between private and family life and professional responsibilities, the investigating judge Michel Claise has informed us that he has decided this evening to step down from the case,” reads the statement. 

The prosecutor’s office added that the move comes in “the absence of any real evidence to cast doubt on the probity of any of the parties involved, and the substantial work he and his investigators have accomplished in this case.”

Judge Aurélie Dejaeffe, who was already involved with the case, is expected to take over the investigation. 

The resignation by Claise could delay the investigation for a significant period of time and also threaten the admissibility of the case, should any conflict of interest occur.