HONOLULU — The founder and president of an airlift company that sought federal funds through U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye has filed a complaint against the Hawaii Democrat with the Senate Ethics Committee.

Paul Asmus of Humanitarian Air Logistics claimed in an April 8 letter that Inouye broke Senate rules by supporting a $20 million earmark for the Edward M. Kennedy Institute in Massachusetts while ignoring a similar request on behalf of his firm.

Asmus, of Palo Alto, Calif., also is charging that Inouye violated his and a business partner's constitutional rights by banning them from his Senate office.

The ethics panel does not confirm or deny receipt of complaints.

An Inouye spokesman refused to comment on Asmus' complaint.