Acting Governor Pulumataala Ae Ae Jr. says he does not condone the behavior of Chief of Staff Leonard Seumanutafa displayed in the House chamber Tuesday. Pulumataala is acting governor as Governor Pulaalii Nikolao Pula left the territory Monday night and will be away for one week.
The Acting Governor said he saw the Chief of Staff Tuesday afternoon when he handed paperwork to be signed however Seumanutafa never informed him of what happened in the House.
As KHJ News reported, Seumanutafa got into a heated exchange with Vice Speaker Fetui Fetu and was escorted out of the chamber by House staff. He repeatedly told the Vice Speaker that he had no authority to tell him what to do. This was after the Vice Speaker made a point of order and was given the floor by Committee Chairman Vailoata Amituanai to speak.
Seumanutafa told the Vice Speaker he should wait his turn, he had the floor. When the Vice Speaker told him not to be disrespectful, the Chief of Staff shouted back “e te le pule,” you don’t have any authority.
Pulumataala said he extends his apologies to the Speaker and House members for the Chief of Staff’s behavior. He said it was unbecoming conduct of someone with a leadership position. He said he would await a discussion with Governor Pulaaalii concerning the Chief of Staff’s conduct. As a former member of the House of representatives Pulumataala said those called in to testify should always show respect and maintain decorum.
Attorney General Gwen Tauiliili-Langkilde who was present at the hearing with the Chief of Staff, Acting Treasurer Carrie- Lee Magalei-Tulafono and Deputy Director of Budget Aokuso Satia apologized to the Committee Chairman and members for what transpired.
During the Committee‘s discussion, Rep Manavaalofa Manase said the disparaging remarks that were directed at the Vice Speaker have harmed all House members. And these statements were uttered in the chamber. They shouldn’t be taken lightly, he said and recommended that House rules pertaining to such behavior be applied.
A tearful Rep Trude Ledoux-Sunia agreed with Manavaalofa that injury to one member of the House, is an injury to all of them. She said since last year they have tried to work together with the administration, but there doesn’t seem to be a change. She said she had supported the administration but the behavior they witnessed was not appropriate for a leader.
Ledoux-Sunia said they’ve held so many hearings but she’s beginning to question if these hearings could bring about any change with the attitude that was displayed in the chamber. She too called for the enforcement of House rules concerning the Chief of Staff’s behavior.
Rep Luaitaua Gene Pan said the Fono should just pass a law requiring Fono confirmation for all executive branch directors.
Tuesday’s hearing was for the ASG witnesses to explain how directors whose salaries were removed by the Fono from the Fiscal Year 2026 budget were being paid. The directors affected are those who were not submitted for Fono confirmation
Vice Speaker Fetui Fetu wanted the police to arrest Seumanutafa for public peace disturbance. However Speaker Savali Talavou Ale said the police should’ve been called before the Chief of Staff left the Fono premises.
The Speaker told KHJ News after the discussion that the House is not taking the Chief of Staff’s behavior lightly and said they will make a decision on a response.
Under the statute one of the grounds for contempt of the legislature is disorderly conduct in the immediate view of the Senate, the House or any legislative committee, directly tending to interrupt its proceedings. A person who is found in contempt of the Legislature is guilty of a class D felony.
