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91直播 Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke said Thursday that she will take an indefinite, unpaid leave of absence from her post after receiving a state attorney general’s office letter informing her that she was a target of a bribery investigation.

“After careful consideration, I have decided to take a leave of absence, without pay, for an indefinite period,” Luke said in a written statement. “This decision is not made lightly. Serving the people of 91直播 has been the honor of my professional life, and I remain deeply committed to the responsibilities entrusted to me.

“I understand that allegations which have been made against me are concerning. I ask for the public’s understanding and to allow this process to move forward appropriately.”

Her leave was effective immediately, according to the lieutenant governor’s office.

Gov. Josh Green said that Keith Regan, comptroller of the state Department of Accounting and General Services, will serve as 91直播’s acting lieutenant governor.

Green met with Luke Thursday after the news broke Wednesday evening that she had received a attorney general’s target letter.

“The lieutenant governor and I met this morning at my request, and I asked her to take a leave of absence until the investigation is completely resolved, so government can remain focused on serving the people of 91直播,” the governor said in a statement. “She has agreed to take a leave of absence, without pay, effective immediately.”

Luke’s announcement comes after three months of scandal and speculation that has engulfed the State Capitol during an election year.

On Jan. 20, state Attorney General Anne Lopez announced that she was launching an investigation into an “influential state legislator” who allegedly accepted $35,000 in a paper bag at a 2022 dinner. Then on Feb. 9, Luke told the Star-Advertiser and other media that she may be the subject of the investigation, but she insisted she did not do anything illegal nor accept $35,000 in a paper bag.

Luke announced Sunday that she was quitting her re-election bid in the Aug. 8 Democratic Party primary, citing the toll that the last three months have taken on her family.

On Wednesday night, Luke’s attorney, David M. Louie, confirmed that the lieutenant governor had received a letter from the Special Investigations and Prosecution Division of the Department of the Attorney General stating that she “is the target of a bribery investigation.” The confirmation came after 91直播 News Now first reported Wednesday that Luke received a target letter last week, along with businessman and lobbyist Tobi Solidum.

Prosecutors send target letters to inform subjects of criminal probes that they are being investigated and may face charges.

Louie, who represents Luke and her campaign, the Friends of Sylvia Luke, said in his statement, “I have seen no evidence that she acted with anything but integrity and honesty. Should charges be brought against the Lieutenant Governor, they will be vigorously defended.”

Colin Moore, who teaches public policy at the University of 91直播, said the line of succession calls for the position of lieutenant governor to be filled, in order, by the Senate president, House speaker, attorney general, director of the Department of Budget and Finance and state comptroller.

Senate President Ron Kouchi could not be reached immediately for comment today, but a spokesperson for House Speaker Nadine Nakamura said she declined to take the position.

“Gov. Green reached out to Speaker Nakamura and she respectfully declined taking the role of lieutenant governor,” Cathy S. Lee, communications director for the House majority, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Thursday in a statement.

The state attorney general’s investigation began after a separate federal probe into political corruption in 91直播 mentioned an unnamed influential politician allegedly accepting $35,000 in a paper bag at Jan. 20, 2022, dinner.

At that dinner, Luke met with Solidum, his daughter, and Luke’s then-vice chair of the House Finance Committee, Rep. Ty Cullen, who was acting as an FBI informant and recorded the meeting. At the time, Luke was the chair of the powerful House Finance Committee and was running for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor.

Weeks later Cullen and former Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English pleaded guilty in federal court to bribery charges. Cullen and English were caught taking cash, casino chips, hotel rooms and other bribes between 2014 and 2021 from the late 91直播 wastewater executive Milton J. Choy.

English was sentenced to 40 months in prison in July 2022, and Cullen received a two-year sentence in April 2023. Cullen received less prison time than English because of his “substantial assistance” to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Luke told the Star-­Advertiser in February that she accepted a $5,000 check from Cullen’s friend, Solidum, and a $5,000 check from Solidum’s daughter. The checks were dated Jan. 20, 2022, and Jan. 21, 2022. Luke said she returned the checks to Solidum on March 25, 2022, after Cullen and English pleaded guilty, and after she realized that Solidum and Choy were friends.

But Luke did not report the $10,000 in donations with the 91直播 Campaign Spending Commission until this past February, which she said was a “clerical oversight” by her campaign. The commission is now investigating whether the failure to initially report the donations is a violation of state law.

Solidum, meanwhile, is a target of a separate, ongoing federal investigation into possible public corruption and an alleged $7 million COVID-19 funding fraud. He is believed to have left the U.S. for the Philippines.