LONDON (AP) 鈥� Scotland鈥檚 former First Minister defiantly rejected any blame Sunday for her estranged husband鈥檚 embezzlement of Scottish National Party funds, saying she wouldn鈥檛 apologize for his crimes.
Sturgeon told the BBC that she felt betrayed by the actions of her husband, pleaded guilty to stealing more than 400,000 pounds ($540,000) from the SNP to fund a lavish lifestyle when he was the party鈥檚 chief executive. She consistently denied having any knowledge of his crimes.
鈥淚 am not responsible for the crimes that my former husband committed,鈥欌�� she told the BBC. 鈥淚鈥檓 not going to apologize for somebody else鈥檚 crimes.鈥�
Sturgeon鈥檚 comments came as she pushed back against widespread disbelief about her previous statements that she knew nothing about Murrell鈥檚 crimes. The case has heightened concerns about the accountability of U.K. politicians after a series of scandals that has eroded trust in government at all levels.
Many critics have also questioned why Murrell was allowed to remain chief executive of the SNP after Sturgeon became party leader in 2014. Sturgeon acknowledged that this was a mistake.
鈥淥f course, with hindsight, I wish that I could go back and take a different decision,鈥� she said.
Murrell鈥檚 plea capped a five-year police investigation of the SNP, which has led Scotland鈥檚 semiautonomous government for almost two decades from the United Kingdom.
Turmoil within the SNP exploded in 2023, as questions swirled about the party鈥檚 finances and dwindling membership numbers.
Sturgeon led the Scottish government for almost a decade but as first minister in February 2023. Observers were bewildered by her statement at the time that she knew in her 鈥渉ead and in my heart鈥� that it was the right time to go.
The following month, Murrell quit his job after two decades as SNP chief executive and took responsibility for misleading the news media about the collapse in party membership. In April, police arrested him at the couple鈥檚 home in Glasgow.
in June of 2023 and l
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