Obviously, as Natalie Iwasa noted in a comment here yesterday as others suggesting how then-Mayor Kirk Caldwell might be dragged into the current corruption case–“As for Caldwell, it’s all speculation at this point.”
That’s certainly true.
But appearances are appearances, I’m afraid, and they invite speculation.
As Alexander Silvert, the retired Federal Defender, told Hawaii News Now:
“Silvert said by hammering out the payout “underhandedly and behind the scenes and trying to cover it up, it looks like this is hush money.” He added, “Chief Kealoha knew something about the administration and they were paying him off to keep quiet and get him out.”
Speculation, for sure.
But the chance of the corporation counsel, managing director, and chair of the police commission “going rogue” and devising this strategy on their own without the full knowledge of and likely control by the mayor, is virtually impossible, as anyone who has ever worked at city hall in any previous administration would certainly know.
So what was so important to the mayor, or some key constituency, that it was felt the deal could not be left to chance, i.e., a potential unfavorable vote by members of the Honolulu City Council?
Normally, getting rid of a hot issue by dumping it in the lap of somebody else is a smart political move. In this case, for some reason, that was seen as a political problem rather than a solution.
What sort of scenario could account for that?
I’m sure that’s a question on the minds of federal investigators as well.
I wonder whether watching this case unfold is going to be as painful, and as educational for the public, as the Kealoha and Miske cases have been?
It’s not time to move on. It’s time to dig in.
Before signing off, here are a couple of photos I wanted to share.
First, an oldie found online, with then-Managing Director Caldwell in the background at the press conference announcing Louis Kealoha’s selection as chief back in 2009. Recall that Caldwell served as managing director in Mufi Hannemann’s administration, and then briefly served as acting mayor in 2010 after Mufi resigned to run for governor.
And then this one from December 2016, with Roy Amemiya in the background at the press conference when Cary Okimoto was introduced as acting chief, replacing Louis Kealoha.
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YES! So happy to see Ian is on this. Here’s what I’ve wondered about for some time now….Ron Menor (running for LT Gov) was publically opposed to giving Louis Kealoha the $250K but lobbied HARD to have hawaii residents pay for a mainland law firm to defend any city employees if questioned by the FBI. What was his motivation? Who was he really helping, the Public or a couple of specific City Employees that he though might be targeted and was protecting?…His reasoning was that the FBI might uncover other non-pertinent information about the City Employees…which seemed like a very weak explanation to me.
Caldwell can’t possibly be an innocent bystander. Next on the indictment list? Wouldn’t surprise.
I’m sure this the Elephant in the room at City Hall meetings right now.
Ian, what is it about City Hall that seems to elicit some of the most epic political downfalls and scandals?
It’s a small stage, more intimate. More gossip, more sources. And when scandals break, we’re closer to the action.
I agree — let’s dig in. The $250,000 payment was broken down into three smaller payments to stay below the reporting threshold, i.e., two payments of $99,999 and one payment for the balance. This was an amateurish move, as any payment that involves a bunch of 9s is a red flag in accounting.
This leads me to wonder what Budget & Fiscal Services’ role was in all of this. Someone should have signed off on these payments or at least questioned them. Did management override controls, and if so, was it Amemiya or Caldwell?
Let’s remember that the Kealoha payoff was publicly very controversial and in the media prior to the Police Commission vote, and certainly afterwards. If Kirk truly had no idea where the money was coming from or how it was being rustled up by his top hand-picked henchpersons, then he was so severely derelict in fundamental coherence and attention to duty as to be utterly unworthy of election to the position of Deputy Assistant Dog Catcher Water Boy Understudy. He got some ‘splainin’ to do.
The oh so wise, Department of Justice, will not tip their hand at what they already know. Their puzzle publicly presented, is so bare bones and simplistic on the surface.
It will will result in a simple conviction.
The defendants have already started blaming each other, goal to whit achieved!
Unless Leong wants to huddle with “Kool Kat Kealoha” look for cooperation. Chinese ladies don’t do jail time in white pant suits!
They get even and She knows all!
Fry, Krook Caldwell…FRYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!
“It’s not time to move on. It’s time to dig in.”
Quick, somebody alert the state’s biggest newspaper, which has no reporting whatsoever on this story in today’s edition.
Ian, I love your subtle use of “It’s not time to move on. It’s time to dig in.” Obviously a reference to Caldwell’s famous quote after Kealoha resigned/retired and was supposedly “out if his hair” finally!
Come to think of it, didn’t Caldwell use “time to move one” more than once? Regarding his railfail as well?