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Mayor to announce decision Tuesday on corporation counsel

There have been calls for the mayor to dismiss Wong

PATRICK WONG – Fate to be decided Tuesday

The Maui News

Mayor Michael Victorino plans to announce his decision regarding the leadership of the Department of Corporation Counsel on Tuesday, the county said Sunday.

A news conference will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the mayor’s conference room on the ninth floor of the county building in Wailuku.

“I have yet to see the attorney general’s report declining to prosecute Patrick Wong,” Victorino said. “However, I’ve been informed that a report has been issued to the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney. On Monday, I will discuss this with Prosecuting Attorney Don Guzman, and I will announce my decision regarding corporation counsel on Tuesday.”

Wong, the county’s top civil lawyer, was arrested at 12:15 a.m. March 9 at a residence in Wailuku and charged with abuse of a household member, a misdemeanor. Wong posted the $1,000 bail that same day and was released. The county referred the case to the state attorney general to avoid any conflict of interest.

On April 1, the attorney general’s office said it would not be prosecuting Wong. Krishna F. Jayaram, special assistant to the attorney general, said that “the decision to decline prosecution of Patrick Wong was made after a careful review of all available evidence related to the incident.” This included police reports, body camera footage, photos, recorded statements and the 911 call.

“This review failed to demonstrate that Wong was engaged in an act of domestic violence pursuant to the laws of the state of Hawaii,” Jayaram said. “The complainant in this case has been apprised and supports the department’s decision.”

Still, there have been calls for the mayor to dismiss Wong. The community group Maui Rise Up has planned a rally at 10 a.m. today at the University of Hawaii Maui College Great Lawn to coincide with the state and county’s proclamation of April as “Sexual Assault Awareness Month” in Hawaii. The group said in an announcement that the goal is not to disrupt but to tell the mayor “that we demand action, not words.”

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