Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe admitted Friday to the national legislature he had provided false testimony over spending by his political office on dinner parties for supporters held on the eve of annual cherry blossom viewing parties, in a scandal that has tainted his administration’s legacy and corroded his own credibility.
“I offered my responses based on the knowledge I had at that time. But, in the end, my remarks were incorrect and harmed the public’s trust toward the legislature,” Abe said in the meeting of the Lower House Steering Committee. “I’m acutely aware of the significance of my political responsibility. Again, I apologize to all members of the public and lawmakers.”
Throughout the two-hour appearance at steering committees of both chambers, the former prime minister deflected blame onto his aides and maintained that they had not told him the truth.