When Raj Bow-Tied One On

MARCH 30--Once a reality television contestant is fired, voted off the island, or told they've been eliminated from the race, TSG usually has no further interest in their criminal history. Unless, of course, they decide to run for Congress. Like Raj Bhakta, the bow-tied former 'Apprentice' wannabe who is the Republican party's candidate in Pennsylvania's 13th congressional district. Turns out Bhakta, 30, was once nabbed for drunk driving, which may be of interest to his prospective constituents in northeast Philadelphia and much of Montgomery County. Additionally, Bhakta was later the subject of an arrest warrant issued after he failed to appear for a court hearing on the misdemeanor rap. According to a police report, a copy of which you'll find below, Bhakta was arrested in June 1997 in Brookline, Massachusetts after being pulled over by a cop who noticed that his Toyota was missing a license plate. When the officer began speaking with Bhakta, he observed that the motorist's eyes were 'glassy and blood shot.' After claiming to have downed just two beers, Bhakta proceeded to fail a series of field sobriety tests and was arrested. Back at the stationhouse, Bhakta--reeking of alcohol--agreed to take a Brethalyzer test. He registered blood alcohol content levels of .19 and .18 on successive tests, both more than twice the state's .08 legal limit. According to a District Court docket sheet, a judge directed Bhakta to attend an alcohol education program and pay a small fine. Before his case was dismissed at the request of probation officials in January 1999, Bhakta failed to show for an August 1998 court hearing, which resulted in the issuance of an arrest warrant. That 'default warrant' for Bhakta, a Boston College graduate, was removed four months later. Bhakta, who appeared on the second season of Donald Trump's NBC reality show, earlier this month announced his candidacy against Allyson Schwartz, a freshman Democratic incumbent. When asked today about Bhakta's bust, Montgomery County GOP boss Ken Davis told TSG that he was unaware of his candidate's arrest. (4 pages)