Media Personalities Allege Lin's Thesis Written by Assistants 媒體人指控 林台大論文由2位助理代寫

Lin Chih-chien, the DPP's candidate for Taoyuan mayor, announced his withdrawal from the the race after NTU revoked his master's degree over charges of plagiarism. Media personality Huang Yang-ming's further accused Lin's National Taiwan University thesis was actually written by two assistants. Lin's layer responded by asking Huang to provide factual proof.

Lin Chih-chien withdrew from the election for Taoyuan mayor hoping to stop the controversy surrounding his thesis, but the political storm still did not subside. Media personalities Amber Chien and Huang Yang-ming accused Lin of having his two assistants write his National Taiwan University thesis. One of them is Yang Ling-yi, who is currently running for Hsinchu City Councilor, and another assistant surnamed Chen. However, Lin's appointed lawyer responded that the accusation requires evidence.

Huang Ti-ying, Lin's Appointed Lawyer: “I think people in the media are going to make accusations like this. They have to have some evidence to back it up. If not, it's not responsible for just making accusations out of thin air. What can the evidence of emails prove?”

Yang refuted on her Facebook the accusations as being speculation and fabricated stories, which she will not take part in. If the media personalities have other proof, they are welcome to file a lawsuit with the court. Yang also confirmed that she was diagnosed with COVID-19 on the 15th. However, a friend of Yu Cheng-huang, a key figure in this controversy, especially went on a talk show to clarify that he did not plagiarize.

Man Chih-kang, Yu's Friend and Secretary-General, KMT Taipei Youth Affairs Dept.: “I want to say that Yu was admitted to NTU and NCU, and later tested into the Bureau of Investigation. He said if he copied someone who failed the university entrance exam twice and was admitted to Chung Hua University the third time, he would shame his ancestors. So he is coming out to clarify that the thesis was really written by him.”

Simon Chang, Taoyuan Mayoral Candidate (KMT): “If this thing is true, I don't think it's just replacing Lin. I think Tsai Ing-wen must come out and apologize. And Cheng Yun-peng protected him all the way. He also has to come out and apologize.”

Lin dropped out of the election because of his thesis and was replaced by DPP legislator Cheng Yun-peng. Rumors are swirling that former DPP legislator Cheng Pao-ching was going to leave the party to run for election, which he has not confirmed yet. However, Chang responded that he admired Cheng Pao-ching and respected him for deciding to run for election.

林智堅退選桃園市長，希望為論文門風波止血，但政治風暴仍不見平息，媒體人錢怡君和黃揚明相繼指控，林智堅的台大論文是他的兩位助理所寫，一位是正在參選新竹市議員的楊玲宜、以及另外一名陳姓助理，不過對此林智堅委任律師回應，指控要拿出證據。

林智堅委任律師黃帝穎表示：「我認為媒體人要提出這樣子的指控，他必須要有一些事證當基礎，如果沒有的話，只是憑空這樣做指控，其實不是那麼負責任，Email那個證據，能夠證明什麼。」

楊玲宜在臉書駁斥，如果只是臆測、編造子虛烏有的故事，恕她無法奉陪，有其他指教歡迎向法院提告，也證實自己一早確診，不過論文門的關鍵人物余正煌，友人也特地上節目澄清絕對沒有抄襲。 

余正煌友人，台北市青工會總會長滿志剛說：「想說他是一個考上台大，考上中央然後考上調查局的人，你說他去抄一個中華考兩次的人，他說他愧對余家列祖列宗啦，所以他一定要出來去澄清說，這些真的是他自己寫的。」

國民黨桃園市長參選人張善政表示：「如果這個事情屬實的話，我覺得現在就不是林智堅換掉而已，我覺得蔡英文主席必須要出來道歉，而且鄭運鵬一路袒護他，他也必須要出來道歉。」

林智堅因為論文退選，改由民進黨立委鄭運鵬出戰，外傳民進黨前立委鄭寶清將要脫黨參選，本人尚未證實，但張善政回應，對鄭寶清的仗義執言相當欽佩，尊重他出來參選。