A special House committee is expected to decide later this month whether or not Rep. Sharon Har violated House rules.
Members of the investigative committee met Wednesday to hear from the petitioners, Michael and Carolyn Golojuch, and Har’s attorney Howard Luke.
The Golojuchs argue Har broke the House standards of conduct when she was arrested for impaired driving on the night of Feb. 22, 2021.
She was arrested after being stopped going the wrong way on Beretania Street — a major one-way road. Har claimed she had a beer with dinner, and her impaired driving was a result of a bad reaction to the medication she was taking.
Har refused to take a field sobriety test, or a breath or blood alcohol test. Honolulu police officers on the scene had testified they smelled a strong alcohol odor from Har, and she had slurred speech.
Earlier this year, per diem Judge Steven L. Hartley acquitted Har of driving under the influence.
Luke said Har’s acquittal was partly due to errors by the prosecution. He said the acquittal should protect Har from any further action – even by the committee.
"The fact is that I have never seen, even when someone has been found guilty, I've never seen anything like this before. But I think it's absolutely wrong, I don't want to use the word disgrace, to keep pursuing Rep. Har after this acquittal. The courts have spoken. We should be proud of our judicial system," Luke said.
Honolulu prosecutor Steve Alm said in January that the ruling to acquit Har was wrong, and the evidence was more than enough for a DUI conviction. Alm said due to the decision, the department cannot try Har again for this case.
The special House committee is expected to make a decision later this month, pending any scheduling conflicts due to the legislative session.
Har represents Kapolei and Makakilo. She was first elected to the state House in 2006. She is also an attorney specializing in real estate, land use and construction litigation.
