A former Democratic Senate majority leader in Maui, Hawaii, was charged in federal court on Tuesday with allegedly taking more than $18,000 in bribes, including an agreement to “introduce a bill and also to kill bills in exchange for cash,” the Justice Department said.
Jamie Kalani English, 54, began taking bribes from a business owner in 2015, which included several thousand dollars to buy food and drinks for political gatherings, according to documents filed in the U.S. District Court in Honolulu.
During the 2020 legislative session, English allegedly accepted $10,000 in cash to delay the passage of two cesspool bills and accepted another $5,000 in 2021. The benefits English received over the years “totaled in excess of $18,800,” the DOJ said, noting his failure to report during an applicable period.
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Both English and another lawmaker, Rep. Ty Cullen, were charged with one count of honest services wire fraud which carries penalties of up to 20 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.
Cullen, 41, resigned on Tuesday from his District 39 seat following the announcement of the charges. He allegedly took gifts, including casino chips, beginning in 2014 and accepted four cash payments amounting to $23,000 from September 2019 to March 2020.
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The case was investigated by the FBI and U.S. Attorney Clare E. Connors for the District of Hawaii.
“Ensuring that government officials provide services free of corrupt practices that violate federal law is a critical priority,” Connors said in a statement. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute government officials who use their positions for illegal enrichment.”
