LOS ANGELES (KABC) — A podcaster has been indicted and arrested in Los Angeles for allegedly threatening to kill President Donald Trump, federal prosecutors said.<\/p>\n
Benjamin Azariah Southworth was taken into custody on Thursday morning at his apartment in the Westlake neighborhood of L.A., according to First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli.<\/p>\n
Southworth is expected to make his initial appearance and be arraigned Thursday afternoon in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles, the Justice Department said in a news release. He was charged with three counts: threats against the president; cyberstalking; and harassing telephone calls in interstate communications.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs threats against President Trump\u2019s life escalate, the Department of Justice will respond with the full force of the law,\u201d Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement. \u201cWe will hold perpetrators of violent threats accountable, and anyone who makes these threats online will not be allowed to hide behind their screens.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the indictment that a federal grand jury returned on Wednesday, from January 2026 to May 2026, Southworth is accused of using social media accounts on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok as well as a website to publicly express his hatred toward President Trump and the President\u2019s supporters. Southworth allegedly used the online platforms to threaten violence against Trump.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is zero tolerance for political violence, especially for threats directed at the President,\u201d Essayli said in a statement. \u201cThreatening an elected official with violence is a serious offense, and you will be arrested and charged as Mr. Southworth found out this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to prosecutors, on April 7, Southworth posted a video on his Instagram account that contained a series of threats against the president, including, \u201cI have been vocal in calling for the execution of Donald Trump\u201d and \u201cThis government is illegitimate and out of control. It\u2019s time for course correction. Kill Donald Trump.\u201d<\/p>\n
Three months earlier, Southworth allegedly published a post on his TikTok account listing the home address of “a Victim 1 \u2013 an attorney who had been President Trump\u2019s personal lawyer \u2013 along with a photograph of Victim 1 and another photograph of Victim 1\u2019s residence,” the Justice Department said. In the same TikTok post, Southworth allegedly stated, \u201cNo peace for traitors.\u201d<\/p>\n
“From January 2026 to May 2026, Southworth left a series of abusive messages online and over voicemail to Victim 2, who is Victim 1\u2019s son, and made harassing telephone calls to Victim 3, who is Victim 1\u2019s wife,” the news release said.<\/p>\n
If convicted, Southworth could face a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for threatening Trump, five years in federal prison for cyberstalking, and two years in federal prison for telephonic harassment, prosecutors said.<\/p>\n
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