A Democratic candidate seeking a seat in Congress from Hawaii is facing serious criminal charges after authorities say he entered a government building armed with a firearm and threatened county employees before fleeing the scene.
Kirill Basin, 40, a candidate for Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District, was arrested Friday afternoon following what Maui County officials described as a disturbing confrontation at a government office in Wailuku earlier that morning.
Authorities allege armed confrontation
According to reports, the incident began around 9:30 a.m. when Basin allegedly entered the county building and threatened two Maui County employees while carrying a gun. Authorities say he left the area before police arrived, prompting a search that ended roughly three hours later when officers arrested him at his residence.
Basin has been charged with first-degree terrorist threatening, a felony offense under Hawaii law. Prosecutors allege his actions placed government workers in fear for their safety.
The allegations mark the most serious development yet in what appears to be a pattern of increasingly confrontational behavior involving the congressional candidate.
Lawsuit against police filed days before arrest
Just one day before Friday’s incident, Basin posted on Instagram announcing that he had filed and served a lawsuit against police officers whom he accused of abusing him during a prior detention.
“This is the lawsuit I served today. It basically outlines how 3 police officers tortured me for 14 hours,” Basin wrote. “That’s the gist. It’ll never happen to anyone again.”
In court filings, Basin alleges officers subjected him to “prolonged and deliberate infliction of physical, sexual and psychological abuse” while he was in custody. Court records indicate that Basin filed the lawsuit on his own behalf and is not represented by an attorney.
The allegations contained in the lawsuit have not been proven in court.
Prior confrontations raise concerns
The arrest comes after several other recent incidents involving Basin.
Earlier in the week, police escorted him out of a South Maui town hall meeting following a dispute involving Maui County Council member Tom Cook and members of Cook’s staff.
Officials say the confrontation continued after Basin left the event.
According to filings later submitted in court, Basin allegedly approached Cook’s executive assistant, Jared Agtunong, in the parking lot, forcing officers to intervene a second time.
The encounter was followed by a series of text messages and a voicemail that Agtunong cited in a petition seeking a temporary restraining order.
“I did not answer Basin’s phone call, but he left a message telling me that I’m a piece of trash, said I should think of my family and insisted I call him back,” Agtunong wrote in the filing.
Agtunong also alleged that Basin later sent messages wishing him luck in prison and warning him, “you’re f*cked.”
A judge granted the temporary restraining order within hours of the petition being filed Friday afternoon.
Earlier arrest adds to legal troubles
The latest allegations come only weeks after Basin was arrested on May 2 on a disorderly conduct charge. Public details surrounding that case remain limited.
Taken together, the incidents have raised questions about the candidate’s conduct as he seeks federal office.
While political disagreements and disputes with public officials are common, authorities say allegations involving threats, intimidation, and firearms move beyond protected political expression and into potential criminal conduct.
Investigation continues
Law enforcement officials continue to investigate Friday’s incident, and additional details may emerge as the case proceeds through the court system.
Basin did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
As with all criminal cases, the allegations against him remain accusations until proven in court.
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This guy sounds like a typical Democrat Terrorist.
He get’s his way or he kills you?
WTF is that?