HI HR9

Urges the Hawaii House of Representatives to establish a five-member investigative committee under Chapter 21, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to investigate a January 20, 2022 payment of approximately $35,000 from an unknown individual to an unidentified "influential state legislator" for purported campaign use.

The payment was secretly recorded by former State Representative Ty Cullen while cooperating with federal law enforcement and was revealed publicly in March 2025 through an improperly redacted federal court filing.

The committee would have subpoena power to compel witness testimony and document production, conduct public hearings, and refer evidence of potential criminal, civil, or administrative violations to the Attorney General, Ethics Commission, or Campaign Spending Commission.

The federal investigation remains active as of November 2025, with the U.S. Attorney indicating a parallel state investigation would potentially interfere; however, the state Attorney General announced on January 20, 2026, that it initiated its own investigation after federal authorities agreed to share evidence.

A public petition with 929 Hawaii resident signatures was submitted in January 2026 requesting the legislative investigation, and at least one minority party member would be required to serve on the proposed committee.