05/04/2008
NEWS STORY
In a letter to ADAC, the German motoring federation, Max Mosley denies any wrongdoing, as the fall-out over allegations in a British tabloid continues.
However, while admitting that the basics of the scandal are correct, he denies outright that there were any Nazi connotations, the element of the story which has caused the most public outrage.
In the letter to ADAC president Peter Meyer, which has also been sent to all FIA member clubs, members of the World Motor Sport Council, members of the FIA Senate and members of the World Council for Automobile Mobility and Tourism, and which Pitpass has seen, Mosley writes:
"Had I been caught driving excessively fast on a public road or over the alcohol limit (even in, say, Sweden where it is very low) I should have resigned the same day.
As it is, a scandal paper obtained by illegal means pictures of something I did in private which, although unacceptable to some people, was harmless and completely legal. Many people do things in their bedrooms or have personal habits which others find repugnant. But as long as they keep them private, nobody objects.
The offence seems to be not what I did but the fact that it became public. But I played no role in this, indeed I did my utmost to ensure it remained private. I was the victim of a disgusting conspiracy.
It goes without saying that the so-called Nazi element is pure fabrication. This will become crystal clear when the matter comes to trial. The newspaper invented this in order to spice up their story and introduce my family background.
In short, I think I have done nothing wrong and that the wrong was done by the newspaper. That is why I am suing them.
I don't think any of this should affect my work on motoring safety, the environment or the sport. I believe that 21st century adults do not worry about private sexual matters as long as they are legal and harmless. I shall put this view to the Assembly in due course."
Last night, following a day in which a number of motoring federations, including ADAC, the Dutch federation KNAF, America's AAA and Israel's Automobile and Touring Club, revealed they did not support Mosley, and called on him to resign, it was revealed that the Englishman is suing the tabloid that originally broke the story for "unlimited damages".