Carlisle demands
Harris records

The subpoenas are the first in
the probe of possible campaign
spending violations

Harris repeats his charge that he
is the victim of a vendetta

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By Rick Daysog
rdaysog@starbulletin.com

City Prosecutor Peter Carlisle has subpoenaed records from Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris' political campaign and the state Campaign Spending Commission.

The subpoenas are the first in Carlisle's investigation into Harris' campaign and come three days after his office received a referral from the Campaign Spending Commission for a criminal investigation of the Harris campaign.

Ruth Ann Becker, a spokeswoman for the Harris campaign, said campaign attorney Chris Parsons was served a subpoena yesterday that requested campaign material, donor lists and database records from the Harris 2000 mayoral campaign.

Becker said the campaign handed over the requested documents, which she said are similar to those previously subpoenaed by the commission.

Campaign Spending Commission Executive Director Bob Watada said he received a subpoena from an investigator from the Honolulu Police Department, which is assisting the prosecutor's office. Watada said he turned over about three boxes of records that his office has gathered during its yearlong investigation into the Harris campaign.

"They're just doing their due diligence," Watada said.

Harris , who plans to run for governor this year as a Democrat, has denied wrongdoing, saying Watada has a vendetta against him. The campaign said it is cooperating with Carlisle's investigation.

City prosecutors and federal investigators are looking into the commission's allegation that Harris campaign officials helped launder political contributions. The commission recently fined nine local companies for donating more than the $4,000 legal limit to Harris' 2000 mayoral race.

One local engineering firm, Geolabs Inc., agreed to pay a record $64,000 fine to settle a commission complaint that it made $124,000 in illegal political contributions to six local political candidates. The firm, its employees and their relatives gave $48,000 in excessive contributions to the Harris campaign, the commission said.

Harris has complained that Watada unfairly singled out his campaign when other political candidates had similar problems keeping track of donations.