(AP) — Two former Hawaiʻi lawmakers accused of taking bribes in exchange for influencing legislation while in office are pleading guilty. Former Rep. Ty Cullen and Sen. J. Kalani English pleaded guilty to honest services wire fraud, admitting they took bribes in exchange for shaping legislation that would benefit a company involved in publicly financed cesspool conversion projects. Cullen resigned shortly before charges against them were announced last week. English retired in May, saying he was suffering from long-term effects of COVID-19. As part of agreements to plead guilty to honest services wire fraud, English will forfeit about $15,000 and Cullen will forfeit $23,000. That represents amounts they received in bribes.
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