Podcaster indicted, arrested in LA for allegedly threatening to kill President Trump, prosecutors say
A podcaster has been arrested for allegedly threatening to kill President Trump.
LOS ANGELES -- A podcaster has been indicted and arrested in Los Angeles for allegedly threatening to kill President Donald Trump, federal prosecutors said.
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.
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.
"As threats against President Trump's life escalate, the Department of Justice will respond with the full force of the law," Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement. "We will hold perpetrators of violent threats accountable, and anyone who makes these threats online will not be allowed to hide behind their screens."
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's supporters. Southworth allegedly used the online platforms to threaten violence against Trump.
"There is zero tolerance for political violence, especially for threats directed at the President," Essayli said in a statement. "Threatening an elected official with violence is a serious offense, and you will be arrested and charged as Mr. Southworth found out this morning."
According to prosecutors, on April 7, Southworth posted a video on his Instagram account that contained a series of threats against the president, including, "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."
Three months earlier, Southworth allegedly published a post on his TikTok account listing the home address of "a Victim 1 - an attorney who had been President Trump's personal lawyer - along with a photograph of Victim 1 and another photograph of Victim 1's residence," the Justice Department said. In the same TikTok post, Southworth allegedly stated, "No peace for traitors."
"From January 2026 to May 2026, Southworth left a series of abusive messages online and over voicemail to Victim 2, who is Victim 1's son, and made harassing telephone calls to Victim 3, who is Victim 1's wife," the news release said.
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.
