Hawaii’s Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke has been indicted

Hawaii’s Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke has been indicted on charges of criminal conspiracy to commit bribery and falsifying campaign reports.

A grand jury returned the indictment after a state investigation into allegations that Luke accepted campaign contributions from a lobbyist in exchange for helping advance a COVID-19 testing contract while she served as chair of the state House Finance Committee.

Also charged in the case are:
- Former State Representative Ryan Yamane
- Ford Fuchigami, an official with the Hawaii Department of Transportation
- Leo Asunción, a former official with the state’s public utilities commission
- Lobbyist Tobi Solidum

Prosecutors say the scheme involved efforts to secure favorable treatment for a COVID-related contract in return for financial support. Luke faces multiple counts related to the alleged bribery and the handling of campaign committee documents.