News Release from Office of Attorney General

HONOLULU, HAWAII – Former City and County of Honolulu Councilmember Rodney H.C.G. Tam, 58, has been charged with eight counts of Campaign Spending Violations, all misdemeanor charges.

The Department of the Attorney General filed a complaint today in the District Court of the First Circuit alleging that from February of 2008 through January of 2009, Tam used a portion of his campaign funds for personal use. The complaint alleges that in June of 2008, Tam filed a false report in the use of his campaign funds with a receipt that was not from the restaurant from which he claimed. The complaint further alleges that Tam failed to report two campaign contributions until well past the reporting deadline.

Arraignment and plea is scheduled for Tuesday, June 7, 2011, at 8:30 a.m., in Courtroom 7C before the Honorable Randal Shintani. A complaint is only an accusation, and Tam is presumed innocent unless and until he is found guilty by a judge or jury.

The complaint filed today is separate from the complaint filed against Tam on November 24, 2010 by the Department of the Attorney General charging him with Theft and Unsworn Falsification charges stemming from ethics violations. Tam also faces a sentencing hearing on those charges Tuesday, June 7, 2011 at 8:30 a.m., in Courtroom 7C, before the same judge, the Honorable Randal Shintani.

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