The district mayor of Berlin-Mitte, Stephan von Dassel (Greens), is trying to de-escalate the conflict about filling an important administrative post.
As reported by the German Press Agency, von Dassel wants to work up the allegations against him and asked the Senate Chancellery to initiate disciplinary proceedings.
Dassel will help clarify the facts "to the best of my knowledge and belief".
Berlin's governing mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD) said that she "of course agreed" to a corresponding application.
Helen Bubrowski
Political correspondent in Berlin.
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Von Dassel is accused of interfering in the procedure for filling a key position in the district office, the office of the control service.
The newspapers "Berliner Morgenpost" and "Tagesspiegel" had reported that he wanted to shorten the legal dispute over the filling of the position by offering the unsuccessful applicant several thousand euros from his own pocket.
The newspapers cite text messages from Dassels to the unsuccessful applicant.
It should be about three months' salary.
However, the Green politician denies having offered private money for the withdrawal of the lawsuit.
The district mayor's office informed the German Press Agency that von Dassel's aim was to be able to fill the position quickly.
The process had dragged on for several months.
He contacted the applicant and asked "whether there is any way to ensure that this process is not allowed to run for two years".
He then asked for money.
Dassel further reported that the administration had rejected it.
He described it as his own "mistake" to have contacted the applicant again with the suggestion that they meet "somehow privately", according to von Dassel.
Apparently, the applicant understood this as an offer of payment.
According to the district mayor, he then made another demand for money.
Von Dassel also reports that he came to the conclusion that this is not a good solution.
He then cut off contact.