Green calls for resignation after grand jury indictment
An Oahu grand jury indicted Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke on Friday for allegedly being bribed by a lobbyist aiming to help a company receive a contract for COVID-19 testing, the Aloha State Daily reported.
Gov. Josh Green told Fox News that in light of the indictment, Luke should depart from office.
“The attorney general announced significant developments in her department’s corruption investigation and has provided an update on their findings,” Green said. “The lieutenant governor needs to consider formally resigning to address this matter and so that the state of Hawaii can move forward.”
The indictment alleges that Solidum offered to contribute $70,000 to Luke’s campaign in exchange for her help securing a contract with the state, according to the Aloha State Daily. Solidum allegedly was looking to bribe Luke in the future after she accepted two $5,000 checks at the beginning of the scheme.
Luke, Solidum, former state Public Utilities Commission chair Leodoloff Asuncion Jr., and state Department of Transportation airports administrator Ford Fuchigami all were indicted for involvement in the alleged scheme.
According to the indictment, Luke accepted two checks for $5,000 in January 2022 at a Morton’s Steakhouse, with the promise of two more payments of $35,000 each. Luke has acknowledged accepting the $5,000 checks but maintains she never received additional money and never acted on what she was paid for, the Aloha State Daily reported.