HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The petition that demanded a legislative investigation into bribery allegations is back in the spotlight.

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Former federal attorney Alexander Silvert sent a three-page letter to state House Speaker Nadine Nakamura and Vice Speaker Linda Ichiyama on Wednesday, asking them to bring back the petition he started last year that collected more than 900 signatures.

Silvert said recent developments show it’s needed, and the petition should be recalled.

House speaker ordered petition filed

Nakamura ordered the petition filed with no further action on April 22. Some representatives objected to her plan.

“Very alarming because we have our own autonomy to do an investigation,” said state Rep. Kanani Souza, a Republican who represents Kapolei and Makakilo.

Souza and state Rep. Della Au Belatti, a Democrat representing the Punchbowl and Makiki area, said the petition had bipartisan support and deserved more attention.

“It honors the public out there who want answers and who demand us to act as an independent branch of government,” Belatti said, and called Nakamura’s actions “sweeping of it under the rug.”

Recent developments cited

Silvert’s new letter cites circumstances that now “demand immediate action.”

Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke put herself on unpaid leave on April 23, one day after Nakamura filed the petition with no action.

Luke received a target letter from the state attorney general’s office as part of the criminal investigation.

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Former state representative Ryan Yamane abruptly resigned as head of the Hawaii Department of Human Services after getting a subpoena on May 19.

Yamane’s apparent involvement shows the criminal case has expanded from one alleged bribery case involving a $35,000 exchange to incidents including COVID-19 funds.

“We now know that the AG’s investigation has expanded greatly into a whole new area, but it’s the same issue, possible corruption of legislators by business people to get money, taxpayer monies, which they either misuse or steal,” Silvert said.

Request would not interfere with criminal investigation

Silvert said his request would not interfere with the AG’s criminal case because it does not ask the Legislature to conduct another criminal investigation, but an open, transparent legislative inquiry.

“I’m asking the speaker of the House to live up to her promise, recall the petition, and invoke a special investigative committee, which she has the absolute authority to do even while the session is out, and begin the process of restoring public faith,” Silvert said.

Souza agreed: “We can have open hearings. We can look at our ethics rules. We can look at how we can better provide government oversight so that we can police our members.”

HNN Investigates did reach out to House Speaker Nakamura for comment through the public information officer. An email was sent after the new letter was delivered electronically Wednesday afternoon. We have not yet heard back.

Silvert said he is focused on the House because the state Senate ignored the petition altogether.

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