AEC Minister Denies Harassment Accusations 原能會主委謝曉星現身 否認騷擾女秘書

Atomic Energy Council Minister Hsieh Shou-shing attended a legislative interpellation on Oct. 7, during which he denied reports he sexually harassed his female secretaries. Cross-party legislators said that the Executive Yuan should transfer or suspend Hsieh while an investigation is ongoing.

A media outlet recently reported that Atomic Energy Council Minister Hsieh Shou-shing sexually harassed female colleagues. Hsieh issued a written statement after the allegations came to light to claim his innocence. He attended a legislative interpellation on Oct. 7. He was scheduled to attend an interpellation on the day that the allegations emerged, but asked to take leave. He explained it was because he thought the legislature would get sidetracked and his mental state was not good. Hsieh also denied the reports that he sexually harassed his female secretaries.

Hsieh Shou-shing, Atomic Energy Council Minister: “I would like to say I am sincerely sorry for all the trouble I caused all of you during the past several days. These are baseless accusations. I would like to emphasize that I have little interaction with my secretaries, because they're only there to assist me and they're basic-level personnel. The only thing I wanted to do was treasure them.”

Hsieh also said he has no problems with the Executive Yuan setting up an investigatory task force to clarify facts. Several female DPP legislators were very concerned about this matter and expressed zero tolerance for workplace sexual harassment. They called for the Executive Yuan to use the highest standards to form a task force and find a third-party women's group to assist in the investigation. They also said Hsieh should not be allowed to speak publicly while he is under investigation, and had issues with Hsieh's statement that he only wanted to treasure his subordinates.

Fan Yun, Legislator (DPP): “Teachers can treasure students too much or managers can cherish students too much. However, once you exceed that boundary and there is discomfort or discrimination related to gender, then it becomes sexual harassment. I would like to ask Minister Hsieh to please set an example.”

Lee De-wei, Legislator (KMT): “If there are perpetrators, then we need to find the victims. I think facts should be the basis so that the truth can come out. That would be the best result.”

Legislators said the Executive Yuan should transfer or suspend Hsieh while an investigation is ongoing so that the investigation can be fast and impartial. They also urged victims to come forward so that the truth can come out.

原能會主委謝曉星日前爆出職場性騷案，第一時間只發書面聲明澄清，7日首度現身立法院，對於事發當天臨時請病假，他解釋是考量總質詢會失焦以及自己精神狀況也不好，並駁斥性騷女秘書是不實謠言。

原能會主委謝曉星表示：「針對這一兩天給各位帶來的紛擾還有我個人給院帶來的困擾，我坦白講我真的很抱歉，我當然是這是一個不實的指控，我在這邊要強調，我幾乎很少對我的秘書，因為她們是來協助我，她們是基層人員，我愛護她們都來不及了。」

謝曉星堅稱自己坦蕩蕩，支持行政院組成調查小組釐清事實，多位民進黨女立委關切此事，對於職場性騷是零容忍，立委何欣純肯定行政院用最高標準組成專案小組，並找來第3方婦女團體協助調查，民進黨團呼籲，謝曉星身為被調查對象，應先暫停對外發言，不過謝曉星說愛護下屬都來不及了，引發爭議。

民進黨立委范雲表示：「教師就是對學生過於愛護，或者是主管對於學生過於愛護，只要就是超過那個邊際，那當事人感受到跟性與性別有關的不舒服或歧視都是性騷擾，那這也是我請謝主委，請您以身作則。」

國民黨立委李德維表示：「有加害人，我們必須要找到被害人，我覺得讓事實來還原，讓真相來說明，這才是最好的結果。」

朝野立委認為，行政院應讓謝曉星調離現職或停職，讓調查小組能盡速公正調查，也呼籲被害人出面，還原事情真相。