State can’t record
trustee interviews
on videotape
By Rick Daysog
Star-BulletinThe state attorney general's office cannot videotape interviews of Bishop Estate trustees Henry Peters and Richard Wong in its investigation of the trust, a state judge ruled today.
Circuit Judge Kevin Chang said that videotaping the interviews is unreasonable, given that other witnesses interviewed by the state in its year-long investigation were not videotaped.
Chang made no ruling on Peters' request that the attorney general's office identify whether Peters is a subject of an administrative, civil or criminal investigation.
Today's decision will likely have minimal impact on the substance of the investigation since both Peters and Wong have agreed to be questioned by investigators. But the legal wrestling between the state and trustees may set back the probe by several weeks.
Renee Yuen, Peters' attorney, said Peters was being singled out unfairly by the attorney general's office. She added that the state has an "ulterior motive" in videotaping her client and argued that the state has selectively leaked information about Peters to the local media.
"One could conclude that the state is not seeking the truth but is seeking a trophy," Yuen said.
Hugh Jones, deputy attorney general, denied the state has leaked information about Peters to the media.
Under Chang's ruling, both Peters and Wong must return for questioning at a mutually agreed-upon date.
Peters met with state investigators July 22, but the interview was cut short after he objected to the videotaping. Wong's scheduled July 29 meeting was canceled after his attorney filed court papers opposing the videotaping.
Bishop Estate Archive
