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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, May 15, 2001

Mansho may face criminal investigation

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser City Hall Writer

City officials yesterday turned more than 200 pages of documents concerning beleaguered City Councilwoman Rene Mansho over to Honolulu police, the first indication that she may face criminal charges.

Some are still calling for Rene Mansho's resignation.

Advertiser library photo • Feb. 3, 2001

Mansho, who represents Mililani, Wahiawa and the North Shore area, has admitted various state campaign spending and city ethics violations, and has agreed to pay $80,000 in fines and reimbursement for misuse of her city staff and resources.

Some residents in her district are calling for her resignation, and some community members have begun a petition drive to remove her from office.

This latest investigation falls under the Honolulu Police Department's white-collar crime unit. No one at HPD was available for comment yesterday afternoon, and Mansho did not respond to requests for comment.

State Campaign Spending Commission executive director Bob Watada said Honolulu police also subpoenaed state campaign spending records on Mansho last week. "It was everything we had on Rene Mansho."

The documents include information about her payroll and travel expenses.

City Council Chairman Jon Yoshimura said he expected the probe. "I believe there's a natural outgrowth of the Ethics Commission and state Campaign Spending Commission investigations."

But Yoshimura declined to offer his opinion about what Mansho should do.

"We need to respect the process," he said. "If they find anything, we'll have to address it then."

City prosecuting attorney executive assistant Jim Fulton said his office is prohibited by law from commenting on any investigation that may come before a grand jury.

Yoshimura said Mansho continues to attend meetings, make decisions and deal with such community concerns as safety worries on Kaukona-hua Road.

Council budget chairman Steve Holmes said he knows that many in the community have strong opinions about Mansho as well as Councilman Andy Mirikitani, who is awaiting trial on federal charges of that include theft, bribery and extortion allegations.

"I've wondered how Rene or Andy handle the pressure of the situation. It'd be awful hard to come to work." Holmes said. But he said it's probably better that "politicians keep their nose out of it" and let the legal process play itself out.

Holmes added: "We get tons of e-mail."