A Hawaii Democratic congressional candidate faces first-degree terrorist threatening charges after allegedly pulling a gun on county government workers during a Friday morning confrontation that ended with his arrest at home.
Armed Confrontation At Government Building
Kirill Basin, 40, allegedly threatened two Maui County employees during an incident at approximately 9:30 a.m. Friday at a government facility in Wailuku before fleeing the scene. The longshot candidate for Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District was taken into custody at his residence around 12:30 p.m. the same day. Law enforcement officials responded to reports of the armed confrontation, leading to Basin’s swift apprehension on serious criminal charges.
Just one day before the arrest, Basin posted claims on Instagram alleging police had subjected him to 14 hours of torture. He filed a lawsuit without legal representation accusing officers of inflicting physical, sexual, and psychological abuse during custody. Court records confirm Basin is representing himself in the legal action against law enforcement.
Escalating Pattern Of Confrontations
Basin’s behavior showed increasing instability in the days preceding Friday’s armed incident. Two days before his arrest, police escorted him from a South Maui town hall meeting following an argument with Council member Tom Cook and staff. After removal from the meeting, Basin confronted Cook’s executive assistant Jared Agtunong in the parking lot, requiring additional police intervention to resolve the situation.
Agtunong filed for a temporary restraining order Friday afternoon, citing a series of threatening text messages and a voicemail from Basin. The messages included statements like “you’re a piece of trash,” warnings to think of his family, and ominous texts reading “you’re f–ked” sent at 9:00 p.m. A judge granted Agtunong’s restraining order petition within two hours of filing, reflecting the severity of the threats.
Previous Run-Ins With Law Enforcement
Basin was previously arrested on May 2 for disorderly conduct, though authorities released limited details about that incident. The candidate did not respond to requests for comment following his latest arrest. The congressional race for Hawaii’s 2nd District continues despite Basin’s legal troubles, though his candidacy faces obvious challenges given the serious criminal charges. First-degree terrorist threatening carries significant penalties under Hawaii law, potentially including substantial prison time if convicted.