AG Pursues Criminal Investigation Into Tam’s Spending

Kimberly Lee

The Department of the Attorney General is leading a criminal investigation into mayoral candidate and City Councilman Rod Tam’s spending of city funds, Civil Beat has learned.

“From what I’ve been told, the investigation is indeed a criminal investigation in which the Honolulu Police Department is assisting the State Attorney General’s office,” said City Councilman Ikaika Anderson, who said police officials had interviewed him in conjunction with the investigation. “Everything that I’ve heard has been through HPD.”

A spokeswoman for the Honolulu Police Department said she would have to “defer comment” to officials at the Department of the Attorney General. Calls and an e-mail to the AG requesting comment weren't returned.

“I cannot talk about it right now,” Tam said Tuesday, when asked about HPD’s criminal investigation into his spending. Asked to confirm the investigation was taking place, Tam responded: “I have no comment at this time.”

As recently as two weeks ago, Tam was open about the Honolulu Ethics Commission’s investigation into his spending of more than $10,000 in taxpayer monies on meals. At a forum for mayoral candidates in Waipahu, Tam characterized outrage from fellow council members over what they claimed was unethical spending as stylistic differences in leadership.

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