Kiyoyuki was pointed out for his involvement in the political change because Kiyoyuki pointed out to Tokihira that all of the students of SUGAWARA no Kiyokimi, a grandfather of Michizane, would be punished and the Imperial Court would come to a standstill if all parties related to Michizane were involved, and he imposed the penalty only on the relatives of Michizane and close advisers of the Retired Emperor Uda, and because Kiyoyuki succeeded to Daigaku no kami (director of the Bureau of Education) due to the downfall of SUGAWARA no Takami, a legitimate son of Michizane.
なお、この時清行は時平に対して、道真の関係者全てを連座の対象とすると、道真の祖父菅原清公以来の門人が全て処罰の対象となり朝廷が機能停止に陥る事を指摘し、処分を道真の親族と宇多上皇の側近のみに留めたことや、清行が道真の嫡男菅原高視の失脚で後任の大学頭に就いたことから、清行の政変への関与も指摘されている。