Social Democratic Party leader Takako Doi denied speculation Saturday that she will resign to take responsibility for the arrest of former party lawmaker Kiyomi Tsujimoto, who is being questioned over the misuse of the salaries of her state-paid secretaries.
During a hastily arranged news conference Saturday night, Doi said, "I was unaware of the series of incidents. It is false to claim that the entire party was involved."
The news conference, also attended by SDP Secretary General Mizuho Fukushima, was Doi's first appearance before the media since Tsujimoto's arrest Friday night. Doi has been harshly criticized for failing to appear in public.