Hawaii Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke faces bribery charges following a state investigation into COVID-19 testing contracts
Hawaii Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke has been indicted on charges of criminal conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, and falsifying candidate committee reports. The charges stem from a 2022 investigation into a bribery conspiracy involving state COVID-19 testing contracts. Prosecutors allege that lobbyist Tobi J. Solidum offered Luke campaign contributions in exchange for her influence in securing funding for his company’s testing sites. The indictment reveals that Solidum allegedly met with Luke at a steakhouse, where he provided two $5,000 checks and promised a total of $70,000 in contributions. While Luke admitted to accepting the initial $10,000, she denied that the money influenced her official lawmaking. The investigation, led by State Attorney General Anne E. Lopez, also resulted in indictments for Solidum, former state representative Ryan Yamane, transportation official Ford Fuchigami, and former public utilities commission chair Leo Asuncion Jr. Governor Josh Green has called for Luke to formally resign. She is currently on unpaid leave and has ended her reelection campaign.