The FBI looked into a number of threats against the late-Sen. Daniel K. Inouye through the years, beginning in 1959 after Hawaii became a state and he was first elected to Congress, according to just-released FBI files.

In one example of a threat to his life, a Baltimore Morning Sun editorial assistant in 1973 reported receiving an anonymous phone call stating, "I’ve got a story for you. We’re going to kill that J–." The caller went on to say "I fought those people in WWII and simply don’t like them."

The files were placed on the FBI website at http://vault.fbi.gov/daniel-inouye/

While the FBI documents from 1959 through 2006 consist largely of anonymous threats against Inouye, they also include information on investigations related to allegations of corruption and bribery over the years.

There are extensive details of an investigation of bribery allegations in 2005 connected with the controversial University-Affiliated Research Center (UARC) agreement between the University of Hawaii  and the Navy. Included is Inouye’s formal request that the FBI conduct an investigation to clear his name after being accused of receiving campaign contributions from UH officials.

Inouye, a World War II veteran and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, died from respiratory complications on Dec. 17 after serving in Congress for more than 54 years. 

Inouye is credited with helping to build and shape the state of Hawaii over decades of public service. The nine-term U.S. senator was a key figure in the Senate investigations of both the Watergate and Iran-Contra scandals. As the longest-serving member of the Senate, the Hawaii Democrat was president pro tempore — third in line to the presidency — at the time of his death.