The Campaign Spending Commission last month subpoenaed records from several financial institutions as part of an investigation into contributions to Aloha Aina Oiaio, a local “super PAC” which spent over $100,000 this year attacking mayoral candidate Keith Amemiya.
The records being subpoenaed include bank records of Aloha Aina Oiaio as well as many of its major early donors, according to copies of subpoenas made public by Lokahi Cuban, the sole officer of the PAC, according to its organizational report filed with the commission.
A hint of what the commission may be investigating appears in a September 16, 2020, letter from commission General Counsel Gary Kam to Garrick Lau and James Auld of Jimmy Up Home Improvement LLC in Aiea. The letter asks for further details of a July 14 contribution of $4,000 from the company to Aloha Aina Oiaio, and a cash deposit of $4,000 on the same day to the Jimmy Up bank account, which was disclosed in the company’s records provided by Central Pacific Bank in response to an earlier subpoena.
“The Commission requests that you identify the source(s) of the $4,000 cash deposit and provide the Commission with documents that verify that the cash came from the source(s) identified by you,” Kam wrote. The contribution to the PAC was by check signed by Auld, according to Kam’s letter.
State election law prohibits so-called “false name contributions.”
[§11-352] False name contributions prohibited. (a) No person shall make a contribution to any candidate, candidate committee, or noncandidate committee in any name other than that of the person who owns the money, property, or service.
Subpoenas were also issued to other donors, including Renell L. Ribeiro of Booth Road, who contributed $6,000; Byron and Roblyn Cuban at the same Booth Road address ($1,000); Robert Park and Odetta Auld-Park of Aiea ($1,000); Dexter Shuichi Sato ($1,000); Shozo Sato, of Kaneohe ($8,000); and Island Wide Flooring Solutions LLC ($5,000).
The next commission meeting where this matter could be discussed is scheduled for November 18, 2020.
See:
“Newly formed PAC behind the anti-Keith Amemiya attack ads“, iLind.net, August 5, 2020.
“Campaign Spending Commission Investigating Anti-Amemiya PAC,” Civil Beat, September 4, 2020.
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Has anyone else received unsolicited emails from “Oahu News Reporter” recently? They are very similar in form and content to the emails previously sent by Aloha Aina Oiaio.
Yes I have.
The Commission really needs the ability to operate faster during an election – if they are going to preserve the integrity of any given election. And either way they need to hand out stiff punishments.