Who took the $35K bribe? Hawaiʻi legislators react

Watch the full conversation

The Hawaiʻi Legislature opened its 2026 session this month under what one lawmaker called a “dark cloud” — the mystery of which legislator may have received $35,000 in a paper bag as a possible bribe in 2022.

The transaction was recorded by former state Rep. Ty Cullen after he was arrested for bribery in 2021 and became an FBI asset. Former Sen. J. Kalani English was also arrested in the probe and both men went on to serve relatively short prison sentences.

To help in the investigation and lower his eventual sentence, Cullen accepted $3,000 from an unnamed bribery subject and two days later recorded that person handing $35,000 to one of his legislative colleagues.

The identity of the lawmaker described in a court filing as “influential” has remained hidden from the public and it is unclear whether that person is still in elected office today.

The issue arose again at a Jan. 27 Civil Beat panel featuring Assistant Majority Whip Sen. Chris Lee, House Majority Leader Rep. Sean Quinlan, and House Minority Leader Rep. Lauren Cheape Matsumoto.

Matsumoto also mentioned House Bill 1763 backed by Republicans to increase penalties for public officials who commit crimes in office. "There has to be that higher standard, because this isn't just the one time, $35,000," she said. "We have seen this happen over and over again in the recent years, and that's just what has been brought to light."