The state’s former chief investigator is suing the State Department over allegations that the attorney general discriminated against him because of his age when he was fired last year.
Daniel Hanagami, in his early 70s, served as AG’s Chief Special Agent from August 2013 to September 2022. He claims the office has removed him from the position, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday night.
Also named as defendants in the lawsuit are former AG Holly Cicada and former First Deputy Valerie Kato, who were sued as civil servants as national civil servants at the time Kagami was dismissed.
Hanagami believes the attempt to oust him is related to a bill proposed last year to create a new law enforcement department. will let
The AG’s office has declined to comment, and the state has yet to file a response to Kashin’s lawsuit as of Wednesday afternoon.
“The Attorney General has no record of receiving the complaint and has no comment at this time,” the office said in a statement.
Kagami’s attorney, Ryan Harimoto, did not respond to phone messages.
Employment in Kagami no Kuni ended on September 19th, and she was forced to hand over the equipment provided by the country.
Hanagami first publicly voiced his dissatisfaction with AG’s office last year at a legislative hearing on a proposed fraud unit at AG’s office and at a confirmation hearing for Shikada. The former chief investigator claimed the office was not pursuing the forwarded case.
Trouble with the office began in 2021 when Kagami held a series of meetings with former State AG Claire Connors, who questioned Kagami’s judgment and leadership abilities. was accused of misconduct.
Kagami then said he was harassed during another series of performance evaluation meetings with Shikada and Gary Yamashiroya, former special assistant at AG. The meeting stopped only after Hanagami presented a doctor’s note “indicating that the meeting was adversely affecting the plaintiff’s health.”
Kagami also claims that Yamashiroya gave orders to his subordinates to undermine his authority.
Hanagami filed complaints with the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission before and after these meetings.
Hanagami claimed at a 2022 hearing that the AG’s office asked the state’s Department of Public Safety to investigate an incident in which pepper spray was used to restrain a homeless man.
According to the lawsuit, Kagami met with Public Security Bureau investigators in August 2022 and refused to make a statement. This is AG Shikada.
Kashin’s lawsuit alleges one count of employment discrimination, one count of aiding and one count of violation of the Whistleblower Protection Act. He is seeking punitive damages, but the exact amount was not specified in the lawsuit.
Please read the complaint below.
