Tommy Tanaka
Encyclopedia
Tommy Tanaka is a Republican politician from Guam
, previous Speaker of the territorial Senate, and previous candidate for the position of Governor of Guam.
Tanaka served as a Senator in the Guam Senate.
In 1994, Tanaka ran for Governor of Guam, but lost the election to Democrat Carl T.C. Gutierrez. The election was contested, but the case was decided in favor of Gutierrez.
financier Evan Montvel Cohen
testified against Tanaka.
Tanaka agreed to a plea agreement with the United States Attorneys Office in Guam; there was no trial for him.
. Rapadas assumed the position after receiving President Bush's 2002 appointment. According to the investigation, "Black stated that he thought Tanaka had used his political influence to get Rapadas the nomination so that Tanaka's criminal matter would disappear." Rapadas was later recused from participation of any ongoing investigations of Tanaka. Black also claimed that Rapadas' nomination was intended to end his ongoing investigations into corruption by public officials in Guam. The OIG determined that Black's allegations were unsupported and that Rapadas' background investigation was sufficient and his appointment appropriate.
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
, previous Speaker of the territorial Senate, and previous candidate for the position of Governor of Guam.
Tanaka served as a Senator in the Guam Senate.
In 1994, Tanaka ran for Governor of Guam, but lost the election to Democrat Carl T.C. Gutierrez. The election was contested, but the case was decided in favor of Gutierrez.
Gutierrez election
In 2003, Tanaka pled guilty to misprision of a felony as part of a political corruption probe by the Guam U.S. Attorney's Office in which Tanaka was accused of endorsing previously-rival Democratic candidate Gutierrez in 1997 in exchange for his construction firm receiving a large government contract to build school bus shelters a few months later. Judge William Alsup sentenced Tanaka to two years of supervised release, including six months of house arrest. In the trial, Air America RadioAir America Radio
Air America was an American radio network specializing in progressive talk programming...
financier Evan Montvel Cohen
Evan Montvel Cohen
Evan Montvel Cohen is an American businessman from the island of Guam. He was a founder and the first chairman of the liberal Air America Radio. Cohen has worked primarily in the broadcasting industry and in politics.-Early life:...
testified against Tanaka.
Tanaka agreed to a plea agreement with the United States Attorneys Office in Guam; there was no trial for him.
Rapadas appointment
Tanaka was later implicated in allegations that he tried to influence the investigation that had been pursued against him by the U.S. Attorney's Office. In June, 2006, the USDOJ's Office of the Inspector General released their final report on their investigation into allegations made by previous interim U.S. Attorney for Guam Frederick Black that Tanaka's nephew Leonardo Rapadas replaced Black in his position as U.S. Attorney after Black called for an investigation into Washington-based lobbyist Jack AbramoffJack Abramoff
Jack Abramoff is an American former lobbyist and businessman. Convicted in 2006 of mail fraud and conspiracy, he was at the heart of an extensive corruption investigation that led to the conviction of White House officials J. Steven Griles and David Safavian, U.S. Representative Bob Ney, and nine...
. Rapadas assumed the position after receiving President Bush's 2002 appointment. According to the investigation, "Black stated that he thought Tanaka had used his political influence to get Rapadas the nomination so that Tanaka's criminal matter would disappear." Rapadas was later recused from participation of any ongoing investigations of Tanaka. Black also claimed that Rapadas' nomination was intended to end his ongoing investigations into corruption by public officials in Guam. The OIG determined that Black's allegations were unsupported and that Rapadas' background investigation was sufficient and his appointment appropriate.
Sources
- USDOJ Report of Investigation into Allegations Relating to the Selection of the U.S. Attorney for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands
- Summary of Guam from 1998 CIA World Factbook
- FORMER GUAM OFFICIAL GETS 18-MONTH SENTENCE
- Air America Radio article, at about.com
- Government Briefs, Pacific Magazine