284:. Bhakta said that he got the idea by seeing a Mexican man illegally cross the border by wading across the Rio Grande. Bhakta had a camera to record the man's illegal crossing, and succeeded in getting the man detained by border authorities. The demonstration garnered national attention for Bhakta's campaign. Bhakta was interviewed by
265:. After reports of the arrests surfaced during the campaign, Bhakta said "I ask for the forgiveness and understanding of the voters, while giving them my solemn pledge that this behavior will not happen again", and said "Politicians today need to come clean".
300:. "This is not about the poor Mexican immigrant who wants to come for a better life that's the real problem here," Bhakta said. He added, "The border security is a joke and this is a creative and very effective way of showing it."
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grad in 2010, while she was hired as his executive assistant. Kim later worked as a marketing and sales director for Bhakta's
WhistlePig whiskey company. The couple married in 2013 and lived in
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Bhakta began his career working at the investment banking firm of Violy & Co. in New York City. Bhakta then founded
Automovia, a technology startup specializing in the valuation of
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reported that Bhakta's campaign made "stunning" automated campaign calls to homes in
Northeast Philadelphia and Montgomery County detailing the charges in 18 lawsuits against an
63:(born 1975) is an American entrepreneur, spirits industry executive, real estate investor and former media and political personality. In 2004, Bhakta was a contestant on the
498:
1415:
376:, France. With vintages dating from 1868 to 1970, these spirits were the basis for his new enterprise, Bhakta Spirits. After acquiring the brandy stocks, along with the
177:'s assistant to go out with him on dates, and was fired by Trump on the ninth week of the show. His relationships with women became fodder for gossip columns such as
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During the campaign, Bhakta's judgment and fitness to lead were called into question as a result of his having been arrested twice, in 1997 and 2004, for
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chateau where they were found, Bhakta brought them back to
Vermont for blending and marketing. His flagship brandy, BHAKTA 50, launched in July 2020.
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Bhakta was forced out of the
WhistlePig, having been accused of fraud and mismanagement. He sold his shares and fully exited the company in 2019.
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by more than 30 points. Bhakta's campaign generated significant national media attention as a consequence of Bhakta's background on
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band. Neither Bhakta nor the mariachi band broke the law by crossing the border, as they remained on private property along the
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In the fall of 2004, Bhakta appeared on the second season of the business reality television show,
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1094:"How a Drive Through the French Countryside Led WhistlePig's Founder to an Armagnac Jackpot"
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735:"Schwartz rival makes splash: Raj Peter Bhakta's colorful stunts win him a high profile"
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by riding an elephant along the border for ninety minutes, accompanied by a six-man
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602:
Sheehan, Jennifer (August 15, 2005). "Bow Ties Come
Bouncing Back into Fashion".
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813:"AP Wire | 10/11/2006 | Politician splashes elephant into Rio Grande"
364:
After leaving
WhistlePig, Bhakta launched his new enterprise Bhakta Spirits in
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reform in meetings with
Congressional leadership. Bhakta was also a guest on
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whiskey, a premium whiskey company. In 2006, he campaigned for a seat in the
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622:"Raj has coffee with Robin, who has a boyfriend; wore McEnroe's underwear"
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1116:"'Spirit' is willing as distiller vows to make world's best rum here"
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for $ 5.9 million and began rum distilling operation on the site.
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1080:"WhistlePig sells stake to investment firm - The Spirits Business"
128:
in
Economics and History with a concentration in Finance in 1998.
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839:"Candidate parades an elephant, mariachi band through Rio Grande"
416:
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On
October 10, 2006, Bhakta illustrated the ease of crossing the
185:
368:. In 2019, Bhakta negotiated purchase of a rare stock of aged
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205:
105:
390:
1141:"Green Mountain College sells at auction for $ 4.5 million"
1004:
http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/local/15947708.htm
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In August 2020, Bhakta purchased at auction the campus of
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213:
238:, he sought and won the Republican nomination for the
191:
551:"Welcome to Apex at Vail Condominiums - 970-479-6620"
104:Born to a Gujarati, Indian father from nansad near
1416:Participants in American reality television series
1066:"WhistlePig founder thrown out of his own company"
1037:
383:In 2019, Bhakta purchased the Whiteface Ranch in
108:, Gujarat, and an Irish mother, Bhakta moved from
709:"America Votes 2006 – State Races – Pennsylvania"
349:, Canada. Starting in 2007, he purchased land in
1387:
1411:Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences alumni
779:
777:
474:"Cameras follow 'Apprentice' to campaign trail"
124:, Bhakta earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from
1441:Asian-American people in Pennsylvania politics
225:
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525:"NBC.com> the Apprentice > Candidates"
188:was credited with a surge in bow tie sales.
1451:People from Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
99:
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116:, where he grew up. After graduating from
1186:"WhistlePig board: Founder took millions"
1013:
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783:
683:"CNN CrossFire transcript: P.C. Holiday?"
391:Purchase of Green Mountain College Campus
236:Montgomery County Board of Commissioners
184:s Page Six, and his frequent wearing of
1466:Asian conservatism in the United States
1109:
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784:Silverman, Stephen M. (April 3, 2006).
732:
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1436:American politicians of Indian descent
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1114:Thomas, Steven M. (January 12, 2023).
1113:
1019:"WhistlePig Farms is now a distillery"
1008:
989:: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
454:"The Apprentice now bids for Congress"
79:United States House of Representatives
1226:
1045:"WhistlePig whiskey official website"
786:"Ex-Apprentice Hopeful Admits to DUI"
604:Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal
316:
1104:
329:, which was initially launched as a
246:, Bhakta lost to incumbent Democrat
169:. On the show, Bhakta propositioned
452:Haniffa, Aziz (November 25, 2005).
192:Political engagement and commentary
145:. Thereafter, he led the Apex Vail
16:American politician and businessman
13:
733:Shields, Jeff (November 3, 2006).
499:"Raj Bhakta's Biography on TV.com"
14:
1482:
1431:American financial businesspeople
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359:
234:, the Republican chairman of the
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1446:American people of Irish descent
1406:Businesspeople from Philadelphia
1365:Comic Relief Does The Apprentice
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1471:People from Vero Beach, Florida
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853:""A Bold Move" by William Rice"
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577:"The Apprentice 2 NBC Homepage"
885:"Interview with Bill O'Reilly"
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372:brandies while on vacation in
1:
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945:"Interview with John Gibson"
385:Indian River County, Florida
83:Pennsylvania's 13th district
73:. He is also the founder of
7:
925:"Interview with Glenn Beck"
905:"Interview with Rita Cosby"
768:September 29, 2007, at the
647:"Social Security This Week"
426:
270:United States-Mexico border
240:13th congressional district
226:2006 Congressional campaign
136:
110:Oxford Circle, Philadelphia
10:
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1461:The Apprentice contestants
1456:American actor-politicians
36:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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740:The Philadelphia Inquirer
411:Bhakta met Danhee Kim, a
303:On November 7, 2006, the
131:
43:
30:
23:
1421:Pennsylvania Republicans
100:Early life and education
89:, but lost to incumbent
1310:ONE Championship series
433:List of bow tie wearers
306:Philadelphia Daily News
149:development project in
122:Pottstown, Pennsylvania
114:Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
1426:The Hill School alumni
1120:Vero Beach 32963 Media
871:"Mother Jones article"
419:. The couple moved to
397:Green Mountain College
331:non-distiller producer
1276:Martha Stewart series
1190:Burlington Free Press
1145:Burlington Free Press
620:(November 11, 2004).
505:on September 29, 2007
313:founded by Schwartz.
1100:. February 23, 2021.
341:distillery owned by
230:With the support of
67:of the reality show
1082:. January 18, 2019.
1025:. November 13, 2013
841:. October 12, 2006.
819:on January 10, 2007
747:on November 2, 2012
689:. December 17, 2004
421:Vero Beach, Florida
413:Columbia University
321:Bhakta founded the
200:, Bhakta advocated
196:After appearing on
1147:. August 19, 2020.
1023:CanadianWhisky.org
663:on January 1, 2007
317:WhistlePig Whiskey
143:pre-owned vehicles
1383:
1382:
1184:D'Ambrosio, Dan.
1165:. August 16, 2016
859:on June 25, 2009.
557:on April 17, 2009
401:Poultney, Vermont
366:Shoreham, Vermont
58:
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1372:Young Apprentice
1281:Celebrity series
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967:. Archived from
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583:on July 19, 2006
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501:. Archived from
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335:Canadian whiskey
248:Allyson Schwartz
244:general election
212:and appeared on
94:Allyson Schwartz
61:Raj Peter Bhakta
25:Raj Peter Bhakta
21:
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311:abortion clinic
232:Thomas J. Ellis
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118:The Hill School
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44:Alma mater
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333:that bottled
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286:Bill O'Reilly
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263:drunk driving
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1048:. Retrieved
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973:. Retrieved
969:the original
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888:
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857:the original
847:
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821:. Retrieved
817:the original
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795:. Retrieved
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749:. Retrieved
745:the original
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716:. Retrieved
703:
691:. Retrieved
677:
667:September 2,
665:. Retrieved
658:the original
653:
641:
629:. Retrieved
625:
618:Andy Dehnart
612:
603:
597:
585:. Retrieved
581:the original
571:
561:December 21,
559:. Retrieved
555:the original
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535:December 17,
533:. Retrieved
529:the original
519:
507:. Retrieved
503:the original
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481:. Retrieved
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378:Condom, Gers
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175:Donald Trump
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1396:1975 births
1271:U.S. series
1125:January 17,
1098:Robb Report
975:November 2,
823:October 27,
483:January 17,
327:rye whiskey
298:John Gibson
147:condominium
1390:Categories
1214:Raj Bhakta
1050:August 10,
1029:August 10,
797:August 10,
751:August 10,
631:August 10,
459:Rediff.com
439:References
323:WhistlePig
294:Glenn Beck
290:Rita Cosby
278:Rio Grande
87:Republican
75:WhistlePig
1352:UK series
1321:Celebrity
1293:Celebrity
1288:Australia
1257:franchise
1195:March 17,
1169:March 17,
478:TODAY.com
423:in 2017.
337:from the
325:brand of
242:. In the
219:Crossfire
1337:Original
985:cite web
766:Archived
587:July 31,
509:June 11,
427:See also
370:Armagnac
274:mariachi
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