TLDR
- B.J. Penn, 47, is running for the District 1 council seat in Hawaii currently held by three-term incumbent Heather Kimball
- Penn was arrested five times in 2025 on charges related to alleged abuse of family members, particularly his mother
- His mother obtained a restraining order claiming Penn suffers from delusions and believes family members were replaced by imposters
- A judge ruled in June that Penn is mentally competent to stand trial on the charges against him
- Penn is scheduled to appear in court on August 28 while remaining free to campaign for office
Sources: yardbarker.com | mmafighting.com
UFC Hall of Famer B.J. Penn has filed to run for a local government position in Hawaii while facing multiple criminal charges from five arrests in 2025. The 47-year-old former two-division UFC champion is seeking the District 1 council seat currently held by three-term incumbent Heather Kimball.
Penn previously ran for Hawaii governor in 2022 but lost that race. His latest campaign comes as he continues to deal with a series of legal issues related to alleged abuse of family members.
Five Arrests in 2025 Lead to Upcoming Trial
Penn was arrested five times last year on charges connected to alleged abuse of family or household members, according to court documents. The charges stem from accusations made by his mother, Lorraine Shin, who claimed Penn assaulted her at her Hawaii home.
Shin obtained a restraining order against her son following the initial incidents. Penn allegedly violated that restraining order multiple times, resulting in additional arrests.
Bruh BJ Penn running for local office again 😠pic.twitter.com/NRfRNQhFsg
— Dovy🔌 (@DovySimuMMA) August 3, 2026
In her petition for the restraining order, Shin described concerning behavior from Penn. She told police that Penn had begun claiming family members were “killed” and replaced by imposters.
“I believe my son [B.J. Penn] is suffering from Capgras delusional syndrome,” Shin wrote in court documents. “He believes I’m an imposter who has killed his family to gain control of the family assets.”
Shin also accused Penn of “extreme psychological abuse” in her filing. She requested a six-month temporary restraining order and asked the court to order Penn to receive medical treatment or therapy.
Judge Rules Penn Mentally Fit for Trial
In June, a judge ruled that Penn was mentally competent to stand trial on the charges against him. This decision came after questions about Penn’s mental state based on the accusations from his mother.
The ruling means Penn can proceed through the legal process. He remains free while awaiting his court dates.
Penn is scheduled to appear in court on August 28 to continue proceedings related to his multiple arrests. Despite his ongoing legal issues, Penn is allowed to campaign for the council seat.
The District 1 council position Penn is seeking represents a local government role in Hawaii. Kimball, the current seat holder, has served three terms in the position.
Penn retired from UFC competition and was inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame. During his fighting career, he won championships in two different weight divisions, making him one of the sport’s most accomplished athletes.
His 2022 gubernatorial campaign marked his first entry into politics. That race ended in defeat, but Penn has now shifted his focus to local government.
Penn’s next court appearance on August 28 will address the charges from his five arrests in 2025.
