Posted on: Thursday, November 11, 2004

Grand jury looking at campaign donations

By Ken Kobayashi
Advertiser Courts Writer

City prosecutors began presenting witnesses to an investigative O'ahu grand jury yesterday in connection with illegal political campaign donations.

City deputy prosecutor Randal Lee said he could not comment on the confidential proceedings, the scope of the investigation or any timetable of when or if the panel will reconvene.

He also declined to comment on whether prosecutors learned enough to seek indictments.

"All I can say is the investigation is ongoing and we are moving forward," he said. "Hopefully, something soon will happen."

One witness who appeared before the grand jury was William Balfour, director of the city's Department of Parks and Recreation. He said he could not comment on what was discussed during the proceedings, but said he answered the questions he was asked. He said he was not advised whether he would be recalled.

Lee said investigative panels seek facts, but do not have the power to indict. Another O'ahu grand jury would hear evidence gathered by the investigative panel and make the decision on whether to return indictments, he said.

Lee is in charge of his office's 2 1/2-year-old investigation into hundreds of thousands of dollars of illegal campaign donations.

Architects, engineers and others have been charged with misdemeanors of making illegal contributions.

But no one has been charged with asking for the illegal donations or illegally awarding government contracts.

Some of the illegal donations went to Mayor Jeremy Harris' campaign, and his lawyers have repeatedly said he did nothing wrong.

Asked if Harris' departure as mayor will have any impact on the investigation, Lee said it would not.

"The bottom line is the public deserves a full and fair investigation and any wrongdoing that may come out of the investigation in terms of crimes should be prosecuted, regardless if he's in office or not," he said.

Harris leaves office Jan. 2.

Lee said Harris has not been subpoenaed to appear before the grand jury.