Hawaii Lt. Gov Sylvia Luke indicted in COVID‑testing bribery probe

A Honolulu grand jury returned a 12‑count indictment against Hawaii Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke. She faces charges of criminal conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery and falsifying candidate‑committee reports, alleged to stem from a $35,000 bribe offered by lobbyist Tobi Solidum in connection with a state COVID‑19 testing contract. The indictment also names four co‑defendants: former state Rep. Ryan Yamane, transportation official Ford Fuchigami, former Public Utilities Commission chair Leo Asunción, and Solidum himself, who has fled to the Philippines. The case originates from an investigation led by Attorney General Anne Lopez, an offshoot of a federal bribery probe that previously resulted in convictions of former lawmakers Ty Cullen and Kalani English. Bail was set at $80,000 for Luke, with varying amounts for the other defendants. Governor Josh Green publicly called for Luke’s resignation, saying the lieutenant governor should consider stepping down to allow the state to move forward. The indictment was handed down after a day‑long grand jury session that included testimony from Cullen, who recorded a meeting where Solidum promised "by next week, we’ll have 35…".