Lee Jin-suk: 'Why does everything become an exception when it comes to President Lee?'

People Power Party lawmaker Lee Jin-suk criticized the so-called fabricated-indictment special prosecutor act Tuesday, asking "why everything becomes an exception and everything becomes special when it comes to President Lee Jae Myung."

Appearing on CBS Radio's "Park Sung-tae's News Show," Lee said "the very act of independently proposing and passing a special prosecutor act is itself a problem," adding that "ordinary citizens, when suspected of a crime, go through legal procedures — they are indicted and then stand trial."

Lee added that "the biggest problem in itself is why, only for cases involving the president — particularly cases involving the president of this left-wing administration — a special prosecutor act is being created to re-examine and investigate them."

"Fundamentally, this would be resolved if the president declared that he would stand trial for the charges against him," Lee said. "The very fact that more than 38 billion won ($28 million) in public funds would be spent on a special prosecutor investigation for his own benefit is itself the biggest problem."

Lee went on to say, "If he is so confident and certain of his innocence, why does he need to use a special prosecutor costing 38 billion won and mobilize more than 300 people to prove it?"

Lee also questioned the consistency of the ruling party's approach. "They abolished the 78-year-old Prosecution Service on the grounds that investigation and indictment should be separated — so why, in the case of this special prosecutor, are investigation and indictment not separated?" Lee said.

"Why does everything become an exception and everything become special only when it comes to President Lee Jae Myung?" Lee said. "I wonder how many citizens can actually understand this."

Lee also raised the possibility that the special prosecutor investigation could eventually lead to the withdrawal of charges. "If that is not the intent and purpose, why spend more than 38 billion won in taxpayer money on this? If there are grounds to be certain the indictment was fabricated, innocence can be proven through trial," Lee said. "The fundamental question being asked is why 38 billion won in public funds is being spent on an investigation for Lee Jae Myung and for Moon Jae-in."

On the People Power Party's ongoing street protests against the special prosecutor act, Lee said that "with 109 seats, there is practically little the People Power Party can do other than hold rallies outside the Assembly and raise its voice against the administration."

Lee added that the ruling camp was "churning out laws as it pleases, without any cooperation, debate or discussion," and that "what the opposition party can do is raise its voice — whether at Gwanghwamun or in front of Cheong Wa Dae — and seek the public's agreement."

On calls for the People Power Party to apologize again as the second anniversary of the Dec. 3 emergency martial law declaration approaches, Lee said, "I do not think we need to apologize as if observing an anniversary every time Dec. 3 comes around," adding that "whether to apologize or not is a matter for former President Yoon Suk Yeol to decide."