Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez on Friday said the state’s ongoing public corruption investigation remains active and is more complex than initially believed.

On Jan. 20, Lopez announced her office was launching an investigation into an “influential state legislator” who allegedly accepted $35,000 in 2022.

Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke later received a letter from Lopez saying Luke was the target of that investigation. Luke has since announced she will not seek re-election and is taking an indefinite unpaid leave of absence.

According to the Department of the Attorney General, its Special Investigation and Prosecution Division continues reviewing evidence, analyzing records, conducting interviews and evaluating information gathered during the investigation.

Because the investigation is ongoing, the department said it cannot comment on specific evidence, investigative steps, witness interviews, subpoenas or potential charging decisions.

“I think most people believed that when this investigation commenced, it would be a simple matter of reviewing the evidence received from the Department of Justice and coming to a conclusion based on the evidence received,” Lopez said in a statement.

“This is not the case. As more facts are discovered, witnesses interviewed, and documents examined, what seemed a simple matter is in fact complex,” the statement continued. “Following the facts as they are uncovered is crucial to ensuring that the results can withstand legal scrutiny. To that end, this department will take the time necessary to thoroughly complete the investigation.”

The attorney general’s office said it will continue providing updates when appropriate and when doing so will not compromise the integrity of the investigation or the rights of those involved.