Chu Li-luan (
Speaking at a press conference at the Legislative Yuan, Chu said that he had never laid eyes on the journalist in question and could not understand where the rumors were coming from.
He pointed out that this story has been around for a long time and that some friends of his suggested six months ago that the reason may be that the journalist in question resembles his wife.
He said when the allegations surfaced earlier he thought it was an April Fool's Day prank. Chu said that he would never have imagined that some scrupulous people would have resurrected the story as the elections near.
Chu also said that over 10 different versions of the story have circulated over the past two months, anonymous phone calls have been made to journalists in high positions and that the story has been both quickly and widely circulated, to the KMT party headquarters as well as to the electorate.
He said he believes that this is a planned and vicious slander in connection with the elections. Chu said the rumors were intended to affect him psychologically and harm his campaign, just as militants who spread anthrax powder hope to inflict psychological terror on their victims.
Chu hoped to put an end to the rumors with his comments yesterday and does not intend to bring the matter to a court of law at this stage. If, however, the allegations pop up again in the form of a rumor or composite photographs, he promised to do so without delay.
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