Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and her campaign are now the subject of a civil complaint charging violations of Hawaiʻi campaign spending laws.

The complaint, filed with the Hawaiʻi Campaign Spending Commission in May by its executive director, alleges eight counts of filing false reports and four counts of unauthorized handling of campaign funds by Friends of Sylvia Luke in 2021 and 2022.

The action by the commission staff comes as the Hawaiʻi Attorney General’s Office continues to investigate Luke on possible criminal charges stemming from an FBI investigation.

In addition to Luke, who is currently on leave, the new complaint names Michael Luke, Emmanuel Zibakalam, Leo Asuncion, Kalowena Komeiji and Matt Sasaki.

All are identified as campaign treasurer or deputy treasurers on Sylvia’s Luke’s organizational report. Asuncion is a former chair of the state Public Utilities Commission who, along with Luke and businessman Tobi Solidum, are primary subjects of the AG’s investigation.

The commission staff recommends the five-member Campaign Spending Commission determine whether the respondents in the complaint “recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally committed a violation of law” and refer the complaint to the attorney general for further investigation and potential prosecution.

As an alternative, the complaint asks the commission to find probable cause to believe that state campaign finance law has been violated and assess a $28,300 fine.

In February, Luke admitted receiving $10,000 from Solidum and his stepdaughter at a dinner in 2022 that included former Rep. Ty Cullen.

Luke said she had returned the money once the news that Cullen and former state Sen. J. Kalani English and been indicted in a federal corruption case, but that the contributions were not reported to the spending commission until recently.

The complaint cites in its docket a lengthy list of exhibits including the lieutenant governor’s electronic filings with the spending commission, campaign letters and copies of checks to American Savings Bank and statements made on the campaign’s website.

Cullen and English were FBI targets of public corruption allegations involving public officials. Both were convicted and served prison time.

Kristin Izumi-Nitao, the commission’s executive director, said Wednesday in a text message that she could not comment on a pending complaint. The commission has scheduled an in-person meeting on the complaint for 10 a.m. Wednesday at its state office downtown.

In a June 19 letter to four of the five campaign spending commissioners (there is one vacancy), attorneys for Friends of Sylvia Luke asked for an indefinite stay or continuance of the proceedings because of the ongoing criminal investigation into Luke and others by the Hawaiʻi Attorney General’s Office.

“Precedent from the Hawaii Supreme Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals makes clear that the right against self-incrimination requires that any civil action be postponed until after resolution of any criminal proceeding involving the same conduct,” David Louie, Howard Luke and five other attorneys wrote.

Luke was elected lieutenant governor in 2022 after having served in the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives.

In April, Luke went on an unpaid leave of absence. Gov. Josh Green designated Keith Regan, comptroller of the Department of Accounting and General Services, to serve as acting lieutenant governor.

A month earlier, in March, Luke’s campaign said it had failed to report more than $7,800 worth of campaign contributions during the first six months of 2022.