SENATE PRESIDENT RONALD D. KOUCHI STATEMENT REGARDING PEITION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED $35,000 CAMPAIGN FUNDS

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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