Full Breakdown
Arrest of Batarti Gabbard in Honolulu Over Alleged Child Luring
7/19/2026, 6:39:57 AM
Core Event
On Friday, Batarti Gabbard, a 55-year-old brother of former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, was taken into custody in Honolulu, Hawaii. Police allege he attempted to entice children to his hotel room by offering “gum and money.” According to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, he approached several minors, including a nine-year-old boy, and asked for their names, which he recorded in a notebook. The children declined and the suspect left the scene.
Background and Family Context
Batarti Gabbard, also known as Bhakti Gabbard, has been described by his wife, Kimberly Gabbard, as exhibiting “bizarre behavior” the day before his arrest, including loud singing and public disruptions. In a petition for a protective order, Kimberly cited repeated family encouragement for him to obtain psychiatric treatment, noting a “significant deterioration of his mental state and judgment.” Tulsi Gabbard, who began her political career as a Hawaii state House representative in 2002 and later served as Director of National Intelligence, resigned from that post last month, citing her husband’s declining health.
Official Statements & Responses
Police statements detailed the alleged luring attempt and the documentation of children’s names. The protective-order petition filed by Kimberly Gabbard highlighted concerns about Batarti’s mental health and sought court-ordered safeguards. No comment has been released from Batarti Gabbard or his legal representatives at this time.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Batarti Gabbard, aka Bhakti Gabbard, allegedly approached several children, including a boy, age 9, and offered them gum and money to accompany him to his hotel room, according to police,” — Honolulu Star-Advertiser
- “He also asked the children for their names and wrote them in a notebook, police said.” — Honolulu Star-Advertiser
- “His family members and I have repeatedly encouraged him to seek psychiatric treatment due to his significant deterioration of his mental state and judgment,” — Kimberly Gabbard
These developments underscore ongoing concerns about the alleged conduct and the family’s call for mental-health intervention.
