Tulsi Gabbard’s Connections with Religious Leader Chris Butler Examined

An investigation conducted by The Washington Post explored the influence of Chris Butler on Tulsi Gabbard’s political messaging during her tenure in Congress. This analysis revealed insights into her association with Butler, leader of the Science of Identity Foundation (SIF), a branch of the Hare Krishna movement, whom she referred to as her guru.

Gabbard’s Relationship with Chris Butler

Internal documents from Rebecca Saltzburg, a former SIF member, imply that Butler aimed to guide Gabbard’s choices from 2011 to 2017, over her first two congressional terms. The documents examined do not clarify if Butler’s influence continued beyond 2017, as Saltzburg felt voters misunderstood Butler’s role in Gabbard’s decisions.

The newspapers report that the documents included policy recommendations and directives for Gabbard’s congressional actions. Several talking points echoed by Gabbard between 2014 and 2016 matched those in SIF memos. However, these claims couldn’t be independently verified, and both Gabbard’s office and SIF have been approached for comments.

Allegations and Responses

Gabbard’s chief of staff dismissed the investigation as inaccurate and rooted in anti-Hindu bias. The case reportedly stems from a failed extortion attempt by Saltzburg, demanding $250,000, connected to a legal issue she experienced.

The Washington Post mentioned a response from someone associated with SIF, describing the allegations as stemming from religious intolerance, while the organization defended the ties between a public figure and their spiritual mentor.

Who Is Chris Butler?

Chris Butler began teaching Krishnaism and meditation in the late 1960s, forming the Science of Identity Foundation in 1977. The group, with practices like meditation, chanting, and lifestyle rules, operates mainly in Hawaii, Australia, and Southeast Asia, though former members label it as insular. Butler maintains privacy, engaging with followers via recordings or intermediaries.

Gabbard’s Early Connection and Political Path

Gabbard’s connection with Butler started early as her parents were instrumental in the organization. Raised with Butler’s followers, she describes her beliefs as “transcendental Hinduism,” a term suggested by Butler.

Gabbard began her political journey at age 21 in Hawaii’s House of Representatives, then joined Congress as a Democrat, using the Bhagavad Gita at her swearing-in as the first Hindu member. She later ran for president in 2020 and subsequently supported Joe Biden. Gabbard endorsed Trump in early 2024 and was named his director of national intelligence.

Document Details

The documents Saltzburg provided included more than 25,000 pages, primarily memos attached to emails. Although Butler’s name was omitted and Gabbard seldom received the emails directly, these were circulated among a group closely linked to both Butler and Gabbard.

Saltzburg claims the recipients recognized Butler’s influence behind these memos. Examples from the memos include a 2014 call for Gabbard to propose legislation against countries with ISIS-affiliated citizens, which she acted on. In 2015, memos included directives for responding to Democratic leadership’s actions, which Gabbard nearly quoted during interviews.

Former Member’s Account

Robin Marshall, an ex-SIF member who joined at 19, commented on Gabbard being groomed for politics by Butler. While SIF’s teachings attracted her initially, Marshall’s experiences living within the group were mixed. Though she never met Butler, she was told to be ready for his appearance and described encounters with his harsh directives.

This report includes content from The Associated Press.