SENATE PRESIDENT RONALD D. KOUCHI STATEMENT REGARDING PEITION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED $35,000 CAMPAIGN FUNDS
UPDATE: Senator Fevella Silent on $35K Bribe
News Release from Hawaii State Senate, Jan 9, 2026
HONOLULU, HAWAIʻI - Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi (District 8 – Kauaʻi, Niʻihau) today issued the following statement regarding the petition relating to the alleged $35,000 campaign funds:
“Based upon the January 7, 2026 press release issued by Attorney General Anne Lopez, who stated that the State of Hawaiʻi 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 Hawaiʻi 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.”
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CLUE: Sylvia Luke is not a legislator.
CLUE: In 2022 the only Republican Senator was Kurt Fevella.
RELATED:
2025: “An analysis of campaign finance records shows that Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke was the only state lawmaker who reported campaign contributions the week of Jan. 20, 2022, that came anywhere near $35,000.”
Jan 7, 2026: "$35K Bribe? Not Me!" -- Signed by Every House Member Sitting in 2022
Jan 8, 2026: $35K Bribe: AG Claims Feds Agree with her Decision to do Nothing
KITV: Hawaii Attorney General declines to look into $35k bribery claim | Politics | kitv.com 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."
CB: The statue of limitations for this potential federal charge is marked from the time the potential crime occurred. So the feds have until January 2027…
HPR: $35,000 payment to unknown lawmaker in 2022 looms over state Capitol | Hawai'i Public Radio
SA: State senators say they didn’t take $35,000 in a paper bag | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
CB: Denby Fawcett: January Reckonings - Honolulu Civil Beat
ASD: Federal delegation quiet on $35,000 bribe