The son of Federal Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) flew in the Bundeswehr helicopter – and proudly posted it on Instagram. After a decision by the Cologne administrative court, Lambrecht now admits that she photographed her son herself.

Federal Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) is said to have photographed the controversial picture of her son in a Bundeswehr helicopter herself. A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defense is said to have informed the “Bild” newspaper.

According to a media report, Lambrecht suffered another defeat in court in the affair about taking her son with him. According to a report by the online portal Business Insider on Tuesday, the Higher Administrative Court of Münster rejected Lambrecht’s appeal against a decision by the administrative court, according to which the minister must provide information about who took the photo of her son in the government helicopter. Lambrecht is said to have told the truth only after the court’s decision, according to “Bild”.

Shortly before Easter this year, Lambrecht, accompanied by her son, traveled in a Bundeswehr helicopter to visit the troops in Schleswig-Holstein. Then she went on holiday to Sylt with her son. The flight became known through the publication of a photo published by her son on the online network Instagram. It shows the son in the helicopter.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the son’s flight was permitted. As stipulated, Lambrecht also assumed all costs for this. The process nevertheless triggered considerable media coverage. At this point, Lambrecht was already under pressure because of her job. Among other things, there was criticism of their handling of the issue of arms deliveries to Ukraine.

The Cologne Administrative Court ruled in August that the Ministry of Defense had to provide a journalist with information about the details of how the photo was taken and published because the incident had “sufficient official connection to the Bundeswehr”. Lambrecht appealed against this decision. This has now been rejected by the Higher Administrative Court, according to the report.