Brother of Tulsi Gabbard Faces Criminal Charges

The brother of Tulsi Gabbard, previously President Donald Trump’s director of national intelligence, has been charged with custodial interference in the second degree. Batarti Gabbard was taken into custody on Friday, following an incident reported on July 12. The Honolulu Police Department (HPD) detailed in a news release that a man had tried to lure children at a Waikīkī hotel pool area around 2 p.m. on July 12.

According to police, the man allegedly approached the group, including a 9-year-old boy, and offered them gum and money to go to his hotel room. He also asked for their names and recorded them in a notebook. The children refused, and the individual walked away. On Friday, police confirmed Batarti Gabbard as the suspect involved.

Tulsi Gabbard, who had resigned from her position in May citing her husband’s cancer diagnosis, received praise from Donald Trump for her performance. Newsweek reached out to both Tulsi Gabbard and her father, Hawaii State Senator Mike Gabbard, for comments via email. The Honolulu Police Department was also contacted.

About Batarti Gabbard

Batarti Gabbard, originally named Bhakti Gabbard, is the eldest child of State Senator Mike Gabbard, a Democrat, and his wife Carol, who have been married since 1968. The couple has five children, including Tulsi Gabbard, and ten grandchildren. Following his arrest, Gabbard’s parents released a statement indicating their son’s past mental health issues and his recent erratic behavior.

“Our son Bhakti has faced mental health challenges before but had been stable for the past decade,” they explained. They attributed his recent behavior to marijuana use, which led to him being homeless after his wife asked him to leave. He reportedly gave his car away and lost his ID and phone. He has adopted new identities and family members have since taken him for a psychological evaluation at Queen’s Hospital, where tests were conducted.

Protective Order and Legal Proceedings

Batarti Gabbard’s wife, Kimberley, filed a petition for a protective order against him, expressing concerns for her safety due to his “grave disability” and “bizarre behavior” after his diagnosis of bipolar disorder with psychotic features. Her petition was rejected last week.

Batarti was also charged with theft but denied the charges during his court appearance, where he was appointed a public defender. The theft case is scheduled for hearing on August 14, while the custodial interference case is yet to receive a court date.