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FBI arrest man for making threats against Gabbard

Hawaii 24/7 Staff

A man who has been harassing and threatening Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for several years was arrested Wednesday in Mexico.

The U.S. Capitol Police Chief Kim Dine and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Washington Field Office Assistant Director in Charge Valerie Parlave announced the arrest of 43-year-old Aniruddha Sherbow.

Aniruddha Sherbow (Photo courtesy of Policia Estatal Preventiva | Mexico)

Sherbow was arrested Wednesday, Aug. 28 in Tijuana by Policia Estatal Preventiva, Baja California State Police Fugitive Unit, pursuant to a federal arrest warrant issued in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Sherbow was turned over to FBI agents in San Diego, Calif. and was scheduled to have his initial court appearance Thursday in San Diego, prior to his eventual return to Washington, D.C., to face the outstanding charge of transmission of threats in interstate commerce.

The alleged threats occurred Aug. 1 and Aug. 3, 2013, and were deemed credible. Sherbow made the threats in a series of at least three emails, which were sent to numerous media outlets, including Hawaii 24/7.

One of the emails ended with the sentence, “I, Aniruddha Sherbow, with the Divine as my witness, do hereby solemnly vow to find Tulsi Gabbard, wheresoever she may be, and to sever her head from her body.”

Dine and Parlave praised investigators from the U.S. Capitol Police and the FBI Washington Field Office as well as the Policia Estatal Preventiva, Baja California State Police Fugitive Unit; U.S. Customs and Border Protection, San Ysidro; U.S. Marshals Service, District of Columbia; U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Columbia; and the San Diego and Honolulu Divisions of the FBI for their crucial work and joint collaboration in apprehending this individual.

The FBI also reminded the public that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Gabbard was on the Big Island for numerous public appearances Monday, Aug. 25, including stops at Kealakehe High School and Hawaii Preparatory Academy. Security for her visit was noticeably tighter; Hawaii 24/7 was denied entrance to Kealakehe High School.

In March 2011, Gabbard was granted a three-year injunction against Sherbow, who allegedly made abusive telephone calls and sent harassing text messages to her.

At the time, Gabbard was serving on the Honolulu City Council.

Gabbard was elected to Congress in 2012 as one of the first two woman combat veterans. She is the first Hindu and first woman of Samoan ancestry to serve in Congress. She is still a captain the Hawaii Army National Guard.

Her office issued no comment regarding Sherbow’s arrest.

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