State government leaders in Hawaii are reacting to Attorney General Anne Lopez’s decision not to open an investigation into an allegation of bribery involving a lawmaker in 2022. The allegation involves a previously sealed federal filing where an unnamed “influential state legislator” accepted campaign funds of $35,000 in a paper bag.
HONOLULU (Island News) — State government leaders in Hawaii are reacting to the attorney general’s decision not to open an investigation into an allegation of bribery involving a lawmaker in 2022.
The allegation, which Attorney General Anne Lopez decided not to look further into, involves a previously sealed federal filing where an unnamed “influential state legislator” accepted campaign funds of $35,000 in a paper bag. The filing stems from a federal probe that led to the 2022 convictions of former Senator Jamie Kalani English and former Representative Ty Cullen.
Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi (District 8 – Kauai, Niihau) issued the following statement:
“Based upon the January 7, 2026 press release issued by Attorney General Anne Lopez, who stated that the State of Hawaii will not initiate any investigation regarding the alleged $35,000 campaign contribution while the matter is still within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Justice and that ‘any parallel state investigation into this matter conducted by any state governmental entity does not serve the interests of justice until the federal investigation has concluded,’ the Hawaii State Senate will await notice from the Department of the Attorney General with regard to its review of the federal investigation and its pending course of action. Additionally, all current sitting Senators have been asked as to whether they received the alleged funds and/or if they know any legislator who received the alleged funds. All majority Senate members have stated that they did not receive the alleged funds and do not know any legislator who received the alleged funds. None of the minority members responded to my inquiry.”
The Hawaii GOP responded by calling for accountability:
“We call for the House to open a state-level investigation into the legislator linked to the $35,000 in question. We believe this step is essential to ensure transparency and accountability.
“At a minimum, the appropriate House committee should be tasked with identifying the legislator involved and ensuring the facts are fully brought to light.”
