Seiji Maehara、DPJ President, speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on Feb. 21.

DPJ President Seiji Maehara later dodged reporters' questions when asked how he would take responsibility for raising the e-mail issue if it proved to be fabricated, only saying his party will continue efforts to promote probes into the scandal. But he claimed the DPJ may reveal new information about Horie's links to Takebe.

"Livedoor's case is a deep-rooted issue. At the core of the issue are links with LDP Secretary-General Takebe," Maehara said. "Our party is scrutinizing fresh information."

With the main opposition party effectively admitting defeat in the battle that one of its lawmakers started, the DPJ plans to shift the focus from the credibility of the e-mail to checking related bank accounts.

The Japan Times Weekly: Feb. 25, 2006
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