Hawaii AG Issues Subpoenas in Public Corruption Probe

Investigation arises from federal bribery case that sent two former state lawmakers to prison.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The Hawaii Department of the Attorney General has issued 'multiple subpoenas and completed several interviews' as part of an ongoing public corruption investigation, which arose from the federal bribery case that sent two former state lawmakers to prison. Attorney General Anne E. Lopez held a news conference to address the growing scandal, stating that the criminal investigation must be conducted methodically and carefully.

Why it matters

The public corruption probe has consumed Hawaii politics at the start of an election year, raising concerns about the integrity of the state's government. The investigation is a parallel state effort to the federal bribery case that has already resulted in prison sentences for two former lawmakers.

The details

Lopez said a team of two deputy attorney generals, two investigators and two analysts are working 'day and night' on the criminal investigation. She stated that she has not received any political pressure to complete the probe before the August primary elections. Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that she did not take $35,000 in a paper bag at a January 2022 dinner, but may be the lawmaker who federal prosecutors said was recorded by the FBI informant Ty J.K. Cullen at the dinner with a lobbyist and his daughter.

  • On January 20, 2022, Cullen recorded a meeting with a lawmaker, a lobbyist, and the lobbyist's daughter.
  • On January 20, 2023, Attorney General Lopez announced a parallel state investigation into the allegations raised in the U.S. Department of Justice probe.
  • On February 13, 2026, Lopez held a news conference to address the growing scandal.

The players

Anne E. Lopez

The Hawaii Attorney General leading the public corruption investigation.

Sylvia Luke

The Hawaii Lieutenant Governor who may be the lawmaker recorded by the FBI informant at a January 2022 dinner.

Ty J.K. Cullen

A former state lawmaker who was an FBI informant after being arrested for taking bribes.

J. Kalani English

A former state Senate Majority Leader who was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison for taking bribes.

Milton Choy

A Hawaii businessman who bribed the former state lawmakers and died in federal custody in 2024.

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What they’re saying

“We have already issued multiple subpoenas and completed several interviews. The criminal investigation must be conducted methodically and carefully.”

— Anne E. Lopez, Hawaii Attorney General (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

“If a crime has been committed, I will prosecute it to the fullest extent of the law.”

— Anne E. Lopez, Hawaii Attorney General (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

“The way I knew Tobi was through Ty ... I knew them to be close. I felt uncomfortable about keeping the donations from Tobi and his daughter ... because of his affiliation with Ty and to some extent, Milton (Choy).”

— Sylvia Luke, Hawaii Lieutenant Governor (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Ty J.K. Cullen out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges Hawaii faces in rooting out public corruption, with the state attorney general now conducting a parallel investigation to the federal bribery probe that has already resulted in prison sentences. The probe's impact on the upcoming election cycle will be closely watched.