A grand jury in Hawaii indicted the state’s Lieutenant Governor and four other key officials and power brokers for bribery, conspiracy and other charges last Friday, after Honolulu Civil Beat, with support from the Fund, uncovered evidence that the FBI recorded a lawmaker being given $35,000 several years ago. Civil Beat subsequently uncovered that a bribe may have been linked to a complex scheme involving COVID relief funds. Even though the FBI had clear evidence, the federal government did not file charges. Civil Beat’s reporting that revealed the payment sparked a public outcry that prompted the state to open an investigation, which led to the grand jury indictments last week.
Hawaii grand jury indicts Lt. Governor for bribery and other charges, using information obtained by grantee
