Hawaii House Majority Leader Della Au Belatti on Tuesday agreed to delay an investigation considering formal complaints against a state representative.
Belatti agreed to the request from Howard Luke, the attorney for Sharon Har, who was arrested last month on a drunken driving charge.
Luke asked that the investigation be postponed until Har’s criminal case concludes. She is scheduled to appear in District Court in late April.
Michael Golojuch Sr. and Carolyn Martinez Golojuch, a married couple, complain that Har has behaved unprofessionally in the matter of her arrest and public statements.
Belatti, who promised a fair and impartial investigation, said her committee will consider whether Har violated House rules on standards of conduct.
The House committee has the option of recommending sanctions for Har ranging from removing her from committees to censure or expulsion.
A censure recommendation would need to be approved by a majority vote of the full House, while expulsion would require a two-thirds vote.
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