Lawmakers question German poll front-runner over searches


              Olaf Scholz, Federal Minister of Finance, and SPD top candidate for chancellor at the forthcoming elections, speaks to journalists after the hearing before the Bundestag Finance Committee in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. Scholz was to answer questions about the search of his ministry in connection with money laundering investigations. (Carsten Koall/dpa via AP)
            
              Olaf Scholz, Federal Minister of Finance, and SPD top candidate for chancellor at the forthcoming elections, speaks to journalists after the hearing before the Bundestag Finance Committee in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. Scholz was to answer questions about the search of his ministry in connection with money laundering investigations. (Carsten Koall/dpa via AP)
            
              Olaf Scholz, candidate for chancellor of the SPD and Federal Minister of Finance, left, Annalena Baerbock, German Green Party co-leader and candidate for chancellor, center, and Armin Laschet, candidate for chancellor of the CDU/CSU and chairman of the CDU, right, stand together before the start of the third TV debate in Berlin, Sunday Sept. 19, 2021. (Kay Nietfeld/dpa via AP)
            
              Olaf Scholz, Federal Minister of Finance and SPD top candidate for chancellor at the forthcoming General election, sits on the Finance Committee of the Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. Scholz is to answer questions about the search of his ministry in connection with money laundering investigations. (Carsten Koall/dpa via AP)
            
              Olaf Scholz, Federal Minister of Finance and SPD top candidate for chancellor at the forthcoming General election, sits on the Finance Committee of the Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. Scholz is to answer questions about the search of his ministry in connection with money laundering investigations. (Carsten Koall/dpa via AP)