Presidential officials urged former interior minister Chang Po-ya (
Secretary-General to the President Chen Shih-meng (
Chen Shih-meng made the statements to counter criticism raised by Chang when she reportedly told the media that "the president is unwilling to bring the guilty to justice."
President Chen said during a meeting with Chang -- as well as with other appointees who failed to win the legislature's approval 10 days ago -- that he can swear every single vote was clean.
Unfair criticism
Chen Shih-meng said yesterday that it is unfair for President Chen to take all the blame because it is not his job to investigate the matter.
But he stressed that the president has demanded that prosecutors must get to the bottom of the allegations and suggested that Chang and other accusers must identify the place and people that were allegedly involved so that the controversy can be resolved as soon as possible.
Another presidential official, who commented under condition of anonymity, said it was illogical for Chang to blame the DPP because the party had voted collectively in favor of Chang, while no one in the "pan blue" camp had supported her.
Chang said on Thursday that some legislators had solicited money from her in exchange for their support for her nomination.
She obtained 102 ballots, 11 votes short of the number needed for approval.
DPP legislators reportedly cast a "yes" vote for her nomination, whereas the "pan blue" camp boycotted the election.
Because Chang's refusal to pay was allegedly the main reason for her failure to obtain enough votes to have her nomination approved, suspicion has been raised that money was spent to get Yao Chia-wen (
KMT Legislator Lee Chia-chin (
He said he will meet with judicial officials tomorrow to provide them with information.
Some TSU lawmakers who voted "no" to Chang's nomination have become prime suspects in the controversy.
While acknowledging that some of them had voted against Chang because they dislike her, TSU lawmakers protested against the bribery allegations, saying it is unreasonable to confuse the two separate motives.
TSU defense
The legislators said the TSU was not obligated to support Chang and stressed that voting against her did not mean that they put their votes up for sale.
Many TSU legislators have expressed their dislike for Chang. They said that, as an independent politician, Chang has maintained better ties with the two "pan blue" parties than with the "pan green" camp.
Chang has agreed to testify in court regarding her allegations but she has refused to comment further on the issue.
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