In a major development in the controversy that has engulfed Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro’s office, his second in command went on leave Thursday, acknowledging that he received a letter linking him to a federal investigation on government corruption.
But Chasid Sapolu, the first deputy prosecuting attorney, said he believes the process will show he committed no wrongdoing, and he stated his intention to cooperate with federal investigators.
“Effective immediately, I have decided, based on my own personal beliefs, to take a leave of absence from my position as the first deputy prosecuting attorney for the City and County of Honolulu,” Sapolu said in a statement sent to media outlets by his lawyer late Thursday afternoon.
“I wholeheartedly believe that the system I am dedicated to serving will reveal that I have done nothing wrong. I believe in the very important mission of the prosecutor’s office. Nothing should ever stand in the way of protecting our community and compassionately serving victims through fair and honest prosecution.”
Sapolu and another top deputy prosecutor, Janice Futa, received what are called subject letters from the U.S. Justice Department, meaning investigators suspect they engaged in misconduct but need to do more investigating.
Kaneshiro received a stronger letter, informing him he is a target of the investigation.
Sapolu in his statement said he
“received a subject letter and, even though I am not a target of a federal investigation, as a dedicated public servant, my intent is to cooperate with any law enforcement investigation. I do not make this decision lightly as it has a significant impact on my family. I continue to believe in the hard work of the employees of our office who passionately protect public safety and look forward to returning when these matters are resolved.”
Sapolu’s statement is the first instance in which one of the three prosecutors acknowledged receiving letters. Kaneshiro and Futa have said nothing publicly about the situation.
Since Monday, when Hawaii News Now first broke the news that Kaneshiro had received a target letter, there have been growing calls by criminal defense attorneys, a former prosecutor, a city councilman and others for the three prosecutors to take leaves of absence until they are cleared of wrongdoing.
A petition drive to impeach Kaneshiro also started.
By remaining on the job while linked to a corruption investigation, the three were undermining the integrity of the office and eroding public trust in that institution, critics said.
But even as the calls to step aside intensified, the three remained silent — until Sapolu issued his statement.
The statement was issued by his lawyer, Randall K.
Hironaka, even though Kaneshiro’s office Tuesday said disclosing information about secret grand jury investigations was a violation of the law. The office at the time would neither confirm nor deny that the three received letters.
The Tuesday statement from Kaneshiro’s office was widely criticized by defense attorneys and others who said the secrecy mandate applied only to prosecutors presenting cases to grand juries and to members of the panels. But witnesses, investigation targets or potential targets are free to talk about the process, and Kaneshiro’s office issued the statement only to avoid answering questions about the letters, the defense attorneys said.
Victor Bakke, a criminal defense lawyer and former deputy prosecutor, called Thursday’s development significant and lauded Sapolu for his decision.
“Whatever is going on, Chasid is doing the simple thing, the right thing,” Bakke said. “It makes me wonder why the other two aren’t doing the same thing.”
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser could not reach Kaneshiro and Futa for comment Thursday evening.
The federal investigation has been ongoing for several years and already has resulted in the indictment of former Police Chief Louis Kealoha, his wife, former Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha, and several former and current police officers.
Kaneshiro and Futa have a long history of working together in the prosecutor’s office, attorneys say. Sapolu didn’t join the office until 2011 and was named by Kaneshiro as his second in command in December 2017.
