CV05-00030 - David C. Farmer vs. Harmon

THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

OFFICE OF THE U.S. TRUSTEE

David C. Farmer, Successor Trustee
vs.
Bobby N. Harmon

(Formerly Mary Lou Woo vs. Harmon and James Nicholson vs. Harmon)

CV05-00030 DAE/KSC

United States District Court, District of Hawaii

Judges: David A. Ezra; Kevin S. Chang

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DEFENDANT’S WITNESS

NORMAN MINETA

Hill & Knowlton
Washington, D.C.

Website: http://www.hillandknowlton.com/about/team/mineta

From wikipedia:

Norman Yoshio Mineta, (born November 12, 1931) is a United States politician of the Democratic Party. Mineta most recently served in the Presidential Cabinet of George W. Bush as the United States Secretary of Transportation, the only Democratic Cabinet Secretary in the Republican George W. Bush Administration. On June 23, 2006, Mineta announced his resignation after more than five years as Secretary of Transportation, effective July 7, 2006, making him the longest-serving Transportation Secretary in the Department's history. On July 10, 2006, Hill & Knowlton, a public relations firm, announced that Mineta would join it as a partner.

Mineta also served as President Clinton's Secretary of Commerce for the last six months of his term (July 2000–January 2001). Save for a span of five days between the end of Clinton's term and Bush's appointments, Mineta spent nearly six full years as a Cabinet member.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Mineta

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New Discovery (10-14-08): Undisclosed financial and political relationships between David Farmer and numerous parties related to this case:

April 17, 2008

Public relations firms feed at
city-funded transit trough

By Laurie Au, Star-Bulletin

The city released yesterday a list of companies working on the $3.7 billion mass-transit system in contracts totaling more than $107 million.

Paying up to sell mass transit

Here are some companies or individuals hired to do public outreach on the city's mass transit system:

Elisa Yadao, public relations: $504,662

Lychee Productions, public relations: $889,117

Norman Mineta, Hill & Knowlton: $120,000 The three companies contracted to the city -- Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas Inc., InfraConsult and PB Americas -- are responsible for primarily the engineering studies being done on the elevated mass-transit system from Kapolei to Ala Moana.

But those companies also hired several other companies for work that includes public relations or community outreach. The city does not pay these subcontractors directly, but does approve the companies.

"I'm very concerned," said Councilman Charles Djou, who had requested the list. "I've always contended that the rail project is too expensive. All this spending of taxpayer money on public relations is basically bribing the taxpayers with their own money."

Djou pointed to two well-known consultants, former U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta and Elisa Yadao, who does public relations with InfraConsult. Mineta, vice chairman of international public relations firm Hill & Knowlton Inc., is getting $120,000 a year to do community outreach in Hawaii.

Yadao, who also worked with Mayor Mufi Hannemann on his campaign in 2004, is getting paid $425,000 over four years. Yadao also received $79,662 for work done with Parsons Brinckerhoff.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann said he stands by the money the city spends on the project.

"I think it's worth every penny that we spend on this project," Hannemann said. "This is the biggest capital improvement project. This is very common and something that the Federal Transit Administration looks at. It's very necessary. Maybe if (the Council) weren't trying to delay and obstruct the project as much, we won't have to spend as much."

The mayor's spokesman added that the public-involvement expenses are a small fraction -- 2.5 percent -- of the project's total cost.

http://archives.starbulletin.com/2008/04/17/news/story02.html

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NEW DISCOVERY (06-07-09): Re: Undisclosed relationships of Steve Goodfellow, Linda Lingle, Charmaine Tavares, Hawaiian Telcom, Eric Yeaman, Walter Dods, First Hawaiian Bank, Bishop Museum, Timothy Johns, Mark Polivka, Carlyle Group, Sandwich Isles Communications, Robert Kihune, Gil Tam, Bank of Hawaii, Paul Allaire, Lucent Technologies, Judith Neustadter Fuqua, David Farmer, Dan Inouye, Central Pacific Bank, Daniel Akaka, Neil Abercrombie, Norman Mineta, AIG, Aon, Colbert Matsumoto, Island Insurance Co., Roy Hughes, Colleen Hanabusa, Micah Kane, etc.

www.kycbs.net/Goodfellows.htm

www.kycbs.net/Hawaiian-Telcom.htm

www.kycbs.net/SandwichIsles.htm

www.kycbs.net/Lucent.htm

www.kycbs.net/Sandwich-Isles-Lucent-Maui-Co.pdf

http://www.bishopmuseum.org/images/pdf/Annual_report.pdf

www.buildingindustryhawaii.com/0903/BI039_FinanceBonding.pdf

www.hawaii.gov/gov/news/releases/2005/News_Item.2005-07-18.0029

http://www.ttsfo.com/sbcteis/feis/text/13.pdf

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April 18, 2008

Mayor’s backers get big rail jobs

Hannemann defends millions doled out
so far to his campaign donors

by Laurie Au, Star-Bulletin

Nearly one in every three companies working on the city's $3.7 billion mass transit system has contributed to Mayor Mufi Hannemann's campaign.

In reviewing a list released by the city this week of subcontractors involved in this project, the Star-Bulletin found at least 19 of the 62 firms have given money to Hannemann's campaign since 2000.

Three contractors were awarded a total of $107 million to work on the beginning phases of the project, including the preliminary engineering, environmental impact statement and public outreach. Those three companies enlisted the help of several dozen companies, some of which were awarded multiple contracts lasting several years.

Hannemann defended the firms, saying they are doing good work and that contributing to his campaign is legal.

"There's nothing that prevents consultants who work with the city who happen to be supporters of mine," he told reporters yesterday. "As long as the contribution is legal, we'll accept the campaign contribution."

Three subcontractors working on public involvement have ties to Hannemann's campaign or administration. They have more than $1.8 million in subcontracts: Elisa Yadao and Laura Pennington, who worked on Hannemann's mayoral campaign, and Gary Omori, married to Clarice Hashimoto, who works in the Mayor's Office.

Meanwhile, the City Council is expected to make a final decision on the technology for the elevated system from Kapolei to Ala Moana. That vote is a mere "formality," said Hannemann, as the city moves forward with steel wheel on steel rail as its technology.

http://archives.starbulletin.com/2008/04/18/news/story01.html

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September 6, 2008

Mayor's ad with Obama clarified

Presidential nominee featured, but has not endorsed Hannemann

BY PETER BOYLAN, Advertiser Staff Writer

A campaign advertisement featuring Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann and Democratic presidential nominee U.S. Sen. Barack Obama was not sanctioned by the Obama campaign and does not amount to an official endorsement, local Obama campaign officials said.

The advertisement, featuring images from Obama's public rally last month at Ke'ehi Lagoon Beach Park and audio of Obama praising the mayor, also includes a picture of Obama with Hannemann and his wife, Gail Mukaihata Hannemann.

The ad quotes Obama saying "I want to thank one of the best mayors in the country who has just made Honolulu even better than it was before, Mufi Hannemann."

Staff members for Obama's Hawai'i campaign said they have been fielding calls about the ad and questions about whether Obama formally endorsed Hannemann.

Hannemann's campaign did not make a formal request to use Obama's likeness or public comments in a paid campaign advertisement, Obama campaign officials said.

"Senator Obama has not endorsed any candidate for mayor of Honolulu," said Andy Winer, Obama's Hawai'i campaign chairman.

A.J. Halagao, who serves as Hannemann's campaign coordinator and campaign spokesperson, was also a volunteer for Obama's local campaign prior to working for Hannemann's re-election campaign.

"We are not aware of an objection from the Obama campaign regarding our commercial. In fact, earlier this week, we were contacted by the Obama campaign to have Mayor Hannemann speak at an upcoming rally in Hawai'i and in addition, travel to Mainland municipalities to speak on Senator Obama's behalf," said Halagao. "Earlier in the year, Mayor Hannemann endorsed Senator Obama, who responded, 'Mahalo to Mayor Hannemann for endorsing my candidacy for president. I have known Mufi since my basketball playing days in high school, and I appreciate all of his efforts to make Honolulu a better place to live.' "

The ad featuring Hannemann and Obama was made at a rally at Ke'ehi lagoon — a public event that already had been broadcast throughout the country, according to the Hannemann campaign.

During his Hawai'i visit last month, Obama reiterated his praise for Hannemann during a fundraiser a few days after the rally, referring to Hannemann as an "outstanding mayor."

The fundraising event, which Hannemann co-chaired, generated more than $1.3 million in donations.

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GOOGLING FOR NORMAN MINETA FROM THE CATBIRD SEAT

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This witness is expected to testify with regard to his business, professional and personal relationships with Barack Obama, George Bush, Lockheed Martin; William Clinton; Hillary Clinton; Janet Reno; The Department of Homeland Security; Dubai Ports World; Dave Sanborn; Eric Shine; Alexander & Baldwin; Matson Navigation; Linda Lingle; Nainoa Thompson; Hawaii State Transportation Director Rodney Haraga; Mufi Hanneman; Ben Cayetano; John Waihee; Kazu Hayashida; Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate; Bishop Museum; Mark Polivka; Matsuo Takabuki; Earl Anzai; Lyn Anzai; John Garibaldi; Joshua Gotbaum; Hawaiian Airlines; Aloha Airlines; The Hawaii Superferry; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; Brian Nishida; Steve Case; Bill D. Mills; Dan Inouye; Daniel Akaka; Lawrence M. Johnson; Donna Tanoue; Jeffrey N. Watanabe; Colbert Matsumoto; The Nature Conservancy; Earl Anzai; Edward H. Kubo; Faye Watanabe Kurren; Tesoro Hawaii; Chevron-Texaco; Ron Brown; Gene Lum; Nora Lum; Treasury Secretary John Snow; CSX Lines; The Carlyle Group; Horizon Lines LLC; APCOA; Investcorp, CB Richard Ellis, Ed Kubo; John Peyton; Carol Muranaka; James B. Nicholson; James “Jim” Nicholson; Daniel Case; Ray Fuqua; Paul Alston; Bernard Schwartz, Judith Neustadter Fuqua, David Farmer, and others to be determined upon discovery.

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"Our safety, our liberty, depends upon preserving the Constitution of the United States as our Fathers made it inviolate. The people of the United States are the rightful masters of both Congress and the Courts, not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution."

-- Abraham Lincoln

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