河井前法相、案里氏が自民離党へ　捜査見据え１７日届け出

　自民党の河井克行前法相と妻の案里参院議員は、１７日に離党届を提出する意向を固めた。同党は受理する見通しだ。党幹部が１６日明らかにした。案里氏の公設秘書立道浩被告に対し、広島地裁は同日、公職選挙法違反（買収）で有罪判決を言い渡した。検察当局は河井前法相についても同法違反容疑での立件に向け捜査を進めており、事件は大きな節目を迎えた。
　案里氏が初当選した昨年７月の参院選では、前法相が案里氏への票の取りまとめを依頼する趣旨で、地元政界関係者らに現金を配った疑いが持たれている。安倍晋三首相の首相補佐官を務めるなど政権中枢に近い前法相らの地元責任者に対する有罪判決で、政権基盤への影響は必至だ。

　これに関し、自民党の二階俊博幹事長は１６日の記者会見で「影響はないと言えば適当でないかもしれないが、党に影響を及ぼすほどの大物議員でもない」と述べた。ただ、昨年の参院選で同党本部は案里氏の陣営に選挙資金として破格の計１億５０００万円を送金。選挙戦でも、首相や菅義偉官房長官が全面支援している。（2020/06/16-18:58）

Former Japanese Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai and his wife, Anri, plan to leave the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, LDP sources said Tuesday.
   The two are expected to submit their letters of resignation from the LDP as early as Wednesday, apparently as public prosecutors are investigating the camp of Anri for the House of Councillors election in July last year for alleged election law violations.
   Before the election, in which Anri won a seat in the upper chamber of Japan's parliament for the first time, Katsuyuki is suspected of having distributed money to local politicians in Hiroshima Prefecture, western Japan. Anri ran in the poll from the Hiroshima prefectural constituency.
   There is the possibility that over 20 million yen in total has been given way. Anri is believed to have also played a role in the money distribution, informed sources said.
   The prosecutors have questioned the couple on a voluntary basis. They are expected to launch a full-fledged investigation into the campaign scandal after the current parliamentary session ends on Wednesday, the sources said.