Though pledging to engage in soul-searching, PFP lawmaker Diane Lee (
Meanwhile, the alleged victim Cheng Ko-jung (
PHOTO: FANG PIN-CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
Lee, who on Saturday openly admitted she had misidentified Twu as the culprit, said she would greet all criticism with a humble heart.
"I will treat all condemnation as a spur for me to reflect on past wrongs," Lee told a news conference yesterday.
The journalist-turned legislator has come under heavy pressure to step down after it was found that it was Tu, chief of the Department of Health's personnel division -- and not Twu -- that was present at the gathering on Aug. 6.
Colleagues from the DPP and the TSU, meanwhile, have urged the legislature's Discipline Committee to punish Lee's reckless behavior.
"I hope the controversy will soon end," Lee said, wiping tears from her eyes. "Let's not politicize the matter or turn it into a partisan war as well as blame the media."
The legislator denied she refused to meet with Twu last week when Premier Yu Shyi-kun suggested the acting DOH head personally clarify the matter with her.
"I commented on the proposal as unnecessary and never heard anything from Twu's office," she said. "Regardless, I will continue to fight on behalf of ordinary people who suffer injustice."
A dozen supporters applauded Lee, shouting repeatedly, "We will always back you." Several heavyweight lawmakers from Lee's own party and the KMT also showed up to encourage her.
"I found it ill-advised for any parties to capitalize on Lee's blunder," KMT legislative leader Tseng Yung-chuan (
"She simply wanted to help the alleged victim. We may all repeat her mistake while seeking to serve our constituents," Tseng said.
Cheng, who earlier accused Twu of kissing him and licking his ear in a KTV parlor in downtown Taipei, again apologized to the health official and his family.
"I know my sorrow is no comparison with the ordeal Twu and his family went through," Cheng, the owner of a dumpling store, said in a written statement.
"Still, I hope I can have the opportunity to personally express my apology." he said
Twu has refused to see either Lee or Cheng.
Cheng, however, said Tu was also responsible for the misunderstanding by failing to come forward and vindicate Twu when he mixed up the two's identities.
"You know very well what you did the other day but you sat around watching your supervisor being wrongfully accused," he said.
Both Cheng and Tu said they never met each other before the KTV party during which Tu allegedly told Cheng he is bisexual and that all restaurants fall under his jurisdiction.
Seeking to avoid the limelight, Cheng has decided to temporarily close down his dumpling store.
"The shop, which may seem insignificant to some, is all I have," he said, adding he would do all he can to help law-enforcement officials probe the case.
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