Posted on: Saturday, October 23, 2004

Abercrombie focus of complaint

Associated Press

A Republic state lawmaker has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission accusing Democratic U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie of violating federal election laws.

Abercrombie campaign spokeswoman Cindy Quinn said the complaint "appears to be a desperate attempt to smear a very distinguished congressman." Quinn said she would reserve further comment until seeing the complaint.

The complaint filed yesterday by state Sen. Sam Slom, R-Diamond Head-Hawai'i Kai, says Abercrombie accepted donations from people who have either been convicted of campaign law violations in Hawai'i or have been fined and sanctioned by the state Campaign Spending Commission.

The alleged violations include making "false name" contributions and funneling illegal contributions through a third party.

Slom's press release announcing the complaint was provided by the campaign office of Abercrombie's Republican opponent, Dalton Tanonaka, who has been under fire himself.

The state Campaign Spending Commission earlier referred accusations of spending violations against Tanonaka to the Honolulu prosecutor for possible criminal prosecution. Another complaint against Tanonaka, filed with the federal elections office, accuses him of making illegal loans to his own campaign. Tanonaka denied that the loans violated election laws.

In the complaint against Abercrombie, Slom identified himself as a "Hawai'i Kai resident" and president of Small Business Hawai'i. Slom said he filed the complaint as a private citizen.

"As a voter ... I have concerns as to why Mr. Abercrombie would accept money knowingly from individuals who have been found guilty of making illegal donations, including a convicted felon," Slom said.