The Governor’s Chief of Staff Leonard Seumanutafa lost his temper during a hearing of the House Budget and Appropriations Committee Tuesday morning.
Seumanutafa, along with Attorney General Gwen Tauiliili-Langkilde, Acting Treasurer Carrie-Lee Magalei-Tulafono and Deputy Director of Budget Aokuso Satia appeared before the committee to answer questions about the status of directors whose salaries the Fono had removed from the Fiscal Year 2026 budget because they had not been submitted for Fono confirmation.
Rep. Fagaima Larry Sanitoa had stated during his questions that a former director of the Criminal Justice Planning Agency, the late Alalamua Filoialii had been submitted for Fono confirmation.
The Chief of Staff wanted to make a point about recent former directors of the same office who had not been confirmed by the Fono. For example the CJPA director during the Lemanu Laapui administration and the CJPA Director for Governor Lolo’s two terms in office.
While he was speaking Vice Speaker Fetui Fetu made a point of order. And Seumanutafa told him he should wait until his turn, that the Committee Chairman Vailoata Amituanai had given him the floor. 
The Vice Speaker told the Chief of Staff not to be disrespectful. The Chief of Staff responded angrily in a loud voice, “e te le pule”, (you don’t have authority), and added, “you do not tell me what to do.”
Here’s part of the heated exchange which was all in Samoan.
Play Audiohouse-argument
The Committee Chairman quickly brought the hearing to a close meanwhile House staff escorted Seumanutafa out of the chamber. The Vice Speaker insisted that they should call the cops to remove Seumanutafa for his rude behavior.
As Seumanutafa was escorted out of the chamber he told the other witnesses to join him. However the Attorney General did not move. She later apologized to the committee chairman and members for what transpired.
The Vice Speaker followed the Chief of Staff out of the chamber. In the lobby Seumanutafa removed his blazer and appeared to challenge the Vice Speaker to a fight while Fono staff tried to calm him down.
Returning into the chamber the Vice Speaker said in all his more than 20 years in the Fono this was the first time a witness had exhibited such rude and embarrassing behavior. He said that the House needs to exercise authority under House rules to dish just punishment for the Chief of Staff. He said he was deeply embarrassed with the disrespectful statements that Seumanutafa directed at him.
Fetu said there was justifiable cause to ask the police to arrest Seumanutafa for public peace disturbance. And he also wanted Seumanutafa to be brought back into the House for a discussion on his behavior. House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale who was absent from the chamber when the heated argument took place, said that this should have been done while Seumanutafa was still at the Fono. However he said the House will deliberate on what course of action to take with regards to the conduct of the Chief of Staff.
At the start of the hearing the Chief of Staff explained that it was the Governor’s wish to pay the salaries of those directors whose salaries had been removed from the budget. Rep Fagaima said under the constitution the Fono has the sole authority to appropriate government funds and once the budget law is signed by the Governor he has to follow it. The total amount of those salaries was $519,000.
Attorney General Tauiliili-Langkilde said the Governor was exercising his authority under Article 1V Section 7 of the constitution. This states that the Governor has authority over appointments of executive offices and personnel. She informed the committee that after the budget was passed they met with the Fono attorneys to discuss a solution to the salary impasse. It was resolved that a supplemental budget bill would be submitted to fund the salaries.
Fagaima reminded that the Governor had assured the Fono that he would submit the names of the directors who have not been approved by the Fono, however up to now the Fono was still waiting
He said the administration’s actions shows that it does not respect the wishes of the Fono.
House Speaker Savali said that he will discuss with the Senate President first how to proceed with regards to the administration’s move to continue paying the directors’ salaries despite the removal of those funds from the budget law.
Several members said they should now move to take the matter to court.
