Brother of Tulsi Gabbard Faces Criminal Charges for Alleged Child Luring

The brother of Tulsi Gabbard, a former director of national intelligence under President Donald Trump, is facing criminal charges. Batarti Gabbard was arrested for custodial interference in the second degree. This stems from an incident on July 12, as stated in a Honolulu Police Department (HPD) news release.

The police received a report of a man attempting to lure children at a Waikīkī hotel pool. The man offered gum and money to a group, including a 9-year-old, to join him in his hotel room. He also asked for their names, writing them down in a notebook. The children declined, and the man left. Batarti Gabbard was later identified as the suspect.

Tulsi Gabbard resigned from her role in May, with President Trump praising her contributions. She left to support her husband, who is battling cancer. Newsweek has reached out to Tulsi Gabbard and her father, Hawaii State Senator Mike Gabbard, for their comments.

Batarti Gabbard’s Background

Born Bhakti Gabbard, he is the oldest son of Mike Gabbard and his wife, Carol. The couple has been married since 1968, having five children and ten grandchildren. Following his arrest, Batarti’s parents revealed in a statement that he has faced mental health issues previously and has been exhibiting erratic behavior lately.

“Our oldest son Bhakti has had mental health issues in the past but has been doing well for the last 10 years. Recently, due to marijuana use, he started acting unpredictably,” they said.

They shared that his wife removed him from their home, resulting in him living on the streets. He donated his car to someone homeless, lost his identification and phone, and possesses no money. Hospital evaluation was sought to monitor his condition.

Legal Proceedings and Family Concerns

His wife, Kimberley Gabbard, sought a protective order against him, citing fear due to his dangerous patterns. The petition was denied. She noted his past diagnosis of bipolar disorder and suspected ongoing illegal drug use.

Batarti Gabbard was also tied to a separate theft charge. He pled not guilty and has been assigned a public defender. His next hearing is set for August 14. There is no scheduled date yet for addressing the custodial interference charge.