TOKYO (TR) – The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) last week announced the intention to suspend lawmaker Masayuki Aoyama from the party amid allegations of sexual harassment by a weekly magazine.
According to Shukan Bunshun (Nov. 2), which hit newsstands on Thursday, Aoyama sexually harassed a former secretary at his legal office.
A final decision on the status of Aoyama will be determined at a board meeting to be held on October 31, according to Tetsuro Fukuyama, the CDP’s chief secretary.
“With our party seeking the eradication of sexual violence, it is regrettable that a woman was hurt by sexual harassment,” said Fukuyama at a press conference at the Diet.
Aoyama responded to the allegations in the article by saying, “Although I perceive things differently, I sincerely apologize if someone was hurt.”
Aoyama was elected through the Tokai proportional representation bloc to the House of Representatives through in the general election held on October 22.
