Democratic Hawaii Gov. Sylvia Locke has been indicted by a grand jury on charges of criminal conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, and falsifying candidate committee reports stemming from a bribe she allegedly received while she was a state lawmaker in 2022.
The indictment alleges that local businessman and lobbyist Toby Solidum offered Locke a $35,000 bribe tied to the company’s recommended COVID-19 testing contract with the state.
Solidum was also indicted as part of the state attorney general’s investigation, along with former state representative Ryan Yamane, Hawaii Department of Transportation official Ford Fuchigami, and Leo Asuncion, a former Hawaii Public Utilities Commission official.
All five defendants were arrested as part of State Attorney Anne Lopez’s investigation in January, which was an offshoot of a federal bribery investigation.
Solidum represents the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii, which has contracts with the state to provide coronavirus testing sites.
In January 2022, with his client’s contracts soon to expire, Solidum met Locke at a steakhouse and allegedly gave her two $5,000 checks that were given to a campaign committee campaigned by friends of Sylvia Locke, according to prosecutors.
“By next week, we’ll have 35, so it’ll be halfway to 70,” Solidum allegedly told Locke, promising to give her $70,000, according to the indictment.
Luke allegedly responded, “Oh wow,” adding, “That’s cool,” according to the documents.
Locke admitted accepting the two checks for $5,000, but denied taking more than that and also denied any money affecting her legislation.
“I have never provided any special favors to any shareholder,” she said in a social media post, adding that she “valued integrity and honesty above all else throughout her career.”
The indictment also says Solidum appears to be trying to capitalize on Locke’s upcoming nomination for lieutenant governor.
Speaking about Locke to another state representative, Solidum said, “All I have to do is give her more money now,” the indictment alleges.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green called for Locke to resign hours after the indictment.
“The lieutenant governor needs to consider formally resigning to address this matter and so the state of Hawaii can move forward,” Green said. a local outlet said Maui is now Friday.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the governor’s and lieutenant governor’s offices for further comment.