TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — TPP Chair and Legislator Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) held a press conference on Tuesday to deny allegations he hired paparazzi to follow and secretly photograph political opponents.
Huang called Mirror Daily, the outlet that made the allegations, "the nation's largest paparazzi ring." He said the organization he co-founded at the center of the allegations, Taiwan Anti-Corruption & Whistleblower Protection Association, collaborates with multiple media outlets to investigate corruption, per CNA.
Huang said that TAWPA has investigated many corruption cases, including the im.B scandal and a Linkou land deal. He claimed this differs from Mirror Daily's practice of employing paparazzi to fabricate cover stories and expose alleged extramarital affairs.
Huang added that those who work with TAWPA take significant risks and that he would never reveal the identity of the investigators or discuss investigation details with outside parties.
Reporters asked Huang about alleged meetings with paparazzi at his Anhe Road office that were discussed in the Mirror Daily story. Huang said he had meetings with many clients and media at the office, including Mirror Daily reporters.
He was later asked about his connection with Central News Agency reporter Hsieh Hsing-en (謝幸恩), who is alleged to have worked with former reporters with experience in surveillance and photography to join Huang's paparazzi ring. Hsieh submitted her resignation to CNA on Monday and has not responded to the allegations.
Huang said he met Hsieh through prior interviews. He praised her exceptional investigative reporting and said her resignation was a loss for CNA.
Huang said her departure from CNA may be a good thing, as the stories produced during her tenure were mostly official news, differing significantly from her previous investigative reporting.
He also challenged Mirror Daily's assertion that funding for the paparazzi ring was from his in-laws through Kai-ssu International (凱思國際). He asked Mirror Daily to identify which in-laws were involved.
Huang claimed Mirror Daily's articles are becoming increasingly unreliable. He also denied a charge that he had secretly filmed former TPP Chair Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) in another Mirror Daily report, calling their reporting "fake news" that undermines Taiwan's overall media environment.
