The news of plea agreements signed by former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, former ranking city prosecutor, Katherine Kealoha, seems to have energized the rumor mill. Or the information mill. Depending on what you believe. Perhaps because Katherine Kealoha’s plea agreement requires her to cooperate in the ongoing corruption investigation.
I received messages from two different people on Monday. One probably has strong political connections, as well as connections from prior federal service. The other is well connected in certain legal circles, although they are not an attorney.
Both said the same thing. Something unexpected. They said Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has emerged as the likely target of the late-stage investigation.
It could be a rumor that is wildly off-base. It could be political “dirty tricks” aimed at Caldwell’s gubernatorial aspirations. But hearing it from two different sources suggests this rumor could possibly have legs.
I guess it’s time for one of the city hall reporters to put the question to Mayor Caldwell: “Have you received a target letter from the grand jury?”
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Wouldn’t be unexpected, as hints have been trickling out since letters of investigations got closer to the Mayor’s office and he himself abruptly asked that we “move on.”
There are a good many of us who want change in government and know Caldwell isn’t the candidate of choice to lead that change.
It could be anything or nothing.
But consider this:
Caldwell’s appointed city attorney has received a federal target letter and gone on leave.
Caldwell himself has publicly stated that the feds are targeting the attorney in connection with former Chief Kealoha’s highly unusual $250k “retirement” payout/payoff.
It seem inconceivable that the payout/payoff would have been approved without Caldwell’s full knowledge and agreement, if not direct demand. That angle should have been seriously scrutinized long ago. At any rate, it’s time to circle back to it.
In addition, there is the separate question of whether Caldwell and allies illegally targeted and harassed the former director and others at the city’s Ethics Commission in connection with investigations that first examined secret financing of Caldwell’s inauguration festivities and continued deep into the Kealoha morass before the investigators were forced out.
If that stuff is not under heavy scrutiny, it sure as shit should be.
And then there’s Kaneshiro…
And the rail project…
And…?
And that’s when we wish we had more reporters like you Ian who always seek answers to important questions for the public rather than blindly swallow press releases.
Is there a more undemocratic legislative body than the city council? 9 representatives for a million people and a $2.6 billion (operating expenses only) annual budget? Would it really surprise you if the mayor was corrupt on top of everyone else?
BINGO!
Oahu needs to consider separate counties…
In the federal system the little fish are offered leniency to inform on bigger fish.
If the police chief gets leniency, who will he be informing on?
Who is a bigger fish than the chief?
There is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY Caldwell should EVER hold a publicly elected or appointed office in this state again. He needs to retire to his “historic” home (with all its tax bennies) and slink away from view forever.
Think Territorial Savings will keep him on the board (with 6 figure salary) after he terms out? I suspect his usefulness will be over by then.
I’ve been posting on my Facebook page items going back to the beginning of the Kealoha federal trial saying this is only the beginning and suggesting that the multiple federal investigations could lead to the prosecution of the mayor or governor. The fact that the feds already have begun fraud investigations involving the rail project means that it is targeting the heads of many unions in control of steel, electrical as well as lucrative insider deal land trades for rail stations. That will necessarily lead to illegal “campaign contributions” to certain connected business and union organizations to politicians. The Kealohas know where “all the bodies are buried,” perhaps even literally. I covered state and federal courts for years as a Star-Bulletin writer and investigative reporter and I’m shocked that corruption has reached this level! Never would have happened under Chuck Marsland, Peter Carlisle, Michael McGuigan or Dan Bent.
I recall (hazily) a few years back, articles in S-A about professional Hawaii board member and man-about-town Colbert Matsumoto acquiring chunks of property in town along the planned rail route. My memory may be faulty at this point but his name just sticks in my craw, especially since the land was acquired (I think) just after he was appointed to the HART board. Again, it could be selective memory…
(I guess Google really is your friend…)
https://www.civilbeat.org/2016/05/does-colbert-matsumoto-have-a-conflict-of-interest-with-rail/
Some more bodies will very likely drop, but you seem to be making quite a few unsupported assumptions, some of them quite wild-eyed indeed.
The governor? He hasn’t been implicated in anything, and it’s hard to see how he could be since this is a city project.
The mayor? Now that’s quite another story. He might want to review a list of extradition treaties.
But “The fact that the feds already have begun fraud investigations involving the rail project means that it is targeting the heads of many unions in control of steel, electrical as well as lucrative insider deal land trades for rail stations”?
Actually, no it does not necessarily mean anything of the sort, although there COULD be some such links under investigation, especially regarding construction contract awards and contract and relocation cost increases.
“That will necessarily lead to illegal “campaign contributions” to certain connected business and union organizations to politicians.” Again, that’s quite a leap from possible to “necessarily.”
So is the supposition that ” The Kealohas know where “all the bodies are buried,” perhaps even literally.” That’s just wild speculation.
The Kealohas very likely know something about some things, but neither is a mastermind or likely to be privy to all potential malfeasance involving the rail project, especially among private sector unions or private contractors, or anything else.
And “buried bodies?” Let’s stop and catch our breath, shall we?
…For arguments sake, can anybody defend Ron Menor’s (failed) attempt to use tax payer money for outside attorneys to defend the City against the FBI’s request for records? I watched the video of the vote on the City’s website and he looked visibly upset at the vote outcome.