Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke Pleads Not Guilty in COVID-19 Bribery Case

Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and three alleged co‑conspirators—including former state lawmaker Ryan Yamane and former Public Utilities Commission chair Leo Asuncion Jr.—entered not‑guilty pleas before Oahu Circuit Court Judge Ronald G. Johnson. Businessman and lobbyist Tobi Solidum, also charged, fled to the Philippines and faces a no‑bail warrant.

Luke, who is on unpaid leave and has ended her re‑election campaign, is accused of accepting up to $70,000 in campaign contributions in exchange for helping secure state funding for a multi‑million‑dollar COVID‑19 testing contract with the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii. She is free on $80,000 bail. The trial is scheduled for Sept. 28, while Solidum is under a separate federal investigation for alleged misappropriation of at least $7 million from the testing contracts.