'Kill Donald Trump': Los Angeles Podcaster Benjamin Azariah Southworth Arrested for Threatening President's Life
Federal authorities arrested 40-year-old Los Angeles resident Benjamin Azariah Southworth on a grand jury indictment charging him with threatening to kill President Donald Trump and cyberstalking the President's personal lawyer and relatives. If convicted on all counts, Southworth faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for threatening the President.
A resident of the Westlake neighbourhood of Los Angeles has been arrested on a federal grand jury indictment charging him with threatening to kill President Donald Trump, as well as cyberstalking and harassing the President's personal lawyer and family members.
Arrest and Charges
Benjamin Azariah Southworth, a 40-year-old one-time podcaster, was taken into custody following an indictment returned by a federal grand jury, reorts the US Attorney's Office. He is facing a three-count indictment that includes one count of making threats against the President, one count of cyberstalking, and one count of harassing telephone calls in interstate communications. Russia-Ukraine War: Donald Trump Sends Envoys to Moscow, Kyiv With ‘Idea for Peace’.
Federal officials emphasised a strict stance regarding intimidation directed at public figures. “As threats against President Trump's life escalate, the Department of Justice will respond with the full force of the law,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “We will hold perpetrators of violent threats accountable, and anyone who makes these threats online will not be allowed to hide behind their screens," he added. First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli echoed those remarks, stating, “There is zero tolerance for political violence, especially for threats directed at the President. Threatening an elected official with violence is a serious offense, and you will be arrested and charged as Mr. Southworth found out this morning.”
Alleged Online Threats and Harassment
According to court documents, investigators allege that Southworth used various online platforms - including YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and a personal website - between January 2026 and May 2026 to express animosity toward President Trump and his supporters, while actively encouraging harassment and violence. Authorities pointed to specific posts made on social media, such as an Instagram video published on April 7, 2026, wherein Southworth allegedly stated, “I have been vocal in calling for the execution of Donald Trump” and “This government is illegitimate and out of control. It's time for course correction. Kill Donald Trump.”
Investigators also outlined a pattern of targeted intimidation against the personal legal representation of the President and their relatives. Three months prior to the video post, Southworth allegedly published a TikTok post displaying the home address and photographs of an attorney who served as President Trump’s personal lawyer, accompanied by the text, “No peace for traitors.” Furthermore, court filings state that between January and May 2026, Southworth subjected the attorney's family members to a series of abusive online messages, voicemails, and harassing phone calls. Donald Trump $1 Coin Sells Out Within Hours of Launch, Sparks Huge Demand Across US.
Investigation and Potential Penalties
The case is being jointly investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. “Cyberstalking and threats of murder are not considered mere political rhetoric under the law, but are serious criminal offenses that lead to prosecution, as today's arrest highlights,” said Patrick Grandy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI, working with our partners at the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Attorney's Office, will ensure that threats and harassment against the President and others are addressed before threats turn to violence," he added.
An indictment is an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted on all counts, Southworth faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for threatening the President, five years for cyberstalking, and up to two years for telephonic harassment.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 05, 2026 11:12 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
