Lee "No mention of receiving money in the warrant... Consequence of presidential election defeat"

In a Private Party Meeting: "No Money Found Even After Checking Accounts"
"Prosecutor's Investigation Continues... Feeling Indebted to the Lawmakers"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] On the 21st, when the arrest warrant consent bill for Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, was sent to the National Assembly, Lee emphasized his innocence of the charges and the prosecution's unfairness in requesting the arrest warrant, saying to his party members, "Despite mobilizing nearly 70 prosecutors and conducting hundreds of searches and seizures, there was no mention in the warrant that Lee Jae-myung received money."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is saluting the national flag at the party meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 21st. The Democratic Party will discuss the issue of processing the arrest consent motion for Lee following the prosecution's request for an arrest warrant at this meeting. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

At a closed-door party members' meeting held at the National Assembly that afternoon, Lee explained in detail to the members about the prosecution's request for the arrest warrant, saying, "I think this is a historic turning point. Due to my shortcomings, we lost the presidential election, and all areas of our society, politics, and economy are regressing," according to Park Sung-jun, the party spokesperson.

According to Spokesperson Park, Lee said, "Looking at the warrant contents related to Daejang-dong, it ultimately proves that Lee Jae-myung did not receive any money. There is nothing found even after tracking his personal accounts and thoroughly investigating those around him."

He also said, "If the prosecution applies the crime of breach of trust on the grounds that the recovery of development profits was insufficient, how can they explain the Busan LCT and Yangpyeong Gongheung District, where no recovery was made at all?" and added, "The prosecution's claim of 70% profit recovery is utterly absurd. I want to ask what the standards and grounds are."

Lee said, "The warrant claims that reports and approvals were made one by one, but that is really ridiculous," and added, "It makes no sense to report and get approval for illegal acts in advance. If so, isn't the Jung Young-hak recording a chronicle of 10 years? Wouldn't related content appear there?"

He continued, "I never thought they would fabricate crimes that do not exist," and expressed, "The warrant reveals that there was no wrongdoing while working for Seongnam City and Gyeonggi Province."

Finally, he reportedly expressed his apologies to the party members.

Lee said, "The members may be very tired and exhausted because the prosecution's investigation is ongoing," and added, "Therefore, this is not a burden caused by Lee Jae-myung's presidential election defeat. As the party leader, I feel indebted to the members."