Prosecutor Seeks To Dismiss Charges Against Outgoing Surgeon General For Violation Of COVID-19 Restrictions

Honolulu, HI – Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm is seeking to have charges dismissed against outgoing U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams for allegedly violating the city’s COVID-19 restrictions last year.

Adams was visiting Oahu to assist with surge testing as cases of the novel coronavirus spiked in August of 2020, KITV reported.

Although Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell had closed all city and county parks in an effort to keep people from congregating amid the spread, Adams and two other men decided to go to Kualoa Regional Park.

A Honolulu police officer busted the surgeon general and two other men “looking at the view and taking pictures,” and issued them citations, KITV reported.

They were charged with misdemeanor violating an emergency order, which is punishable buy up to one year in jail and a $5,000 fine, the Star Advertiser reported.

But on Tuesday, Alm filed a motion with the First Circuit Court seeking to dismiss the charges pending against Adams and his aide.

“A prosecutor’s paramount goal is to do justice,” Alm said in defense of the motion. “After a careful review of the facts and law in this case, I have determined that further prosecution of this matter would not achieve that goal.”

He said his office has better things to do than to prosecute the surgeon general.

“This office’s resources are better spent prosecuting other offenses, including serious violations of the Mayor’s emergency orders that pose a real threat to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Alm told KITV.

He expects the charges to be dismissed within the next several days, the Star Advertiser reported.

“We fully expect the judge to sign this and approve it,” Alm said.

Adams announced on Wednesday that newly-elected President Joe Biden asked him to resign from his position to make way for Dr. Vivek Murthy, who Biden picked to fill the role, CNN reported.

Adams’ four-year term was not set to expire until September.

“I’ve been asked by the Biden team to step down as Surgeon General,” Adams tweeted on Inauguration Day. “Its been the honor of my life to serve this Nation, and I will do all I can to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to achieve and maintain health.”