Federal prosecutors have charged a Los Angeles man with threatening to kill President Donald Trump and targeting Trump’s personal lawyer and family, underscoring a growing concern over politically driven violence.
Benjamin Azariah Southworth, a 40-year-old resident of Los Angeles’s Westlake neighborhood, was arrested Wednesday morning and arraigned that afternoon in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles. Authorities allege that Southworth mounted a months-long online campaign, from January to May, using platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and a website to post direct threats, encourage harassment, and target Trump’s attorney and his family. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and now faces a possible 12-year sentence in federal prison if convicted on all counts.
The three-count federal indictment against Southworth includes charges of threatening to kill the president, cyberstalking, and telephonic harassment. Prosecutors say he repeatedly called for Trump’s assassination, shared private contact information of the president’s personal lawyer, and harassed the lawyer’s wife and son with abusive messages and calls. In one post, Southworth allegedly wrote “No peace for traitors” and “Kill Donald Trump” alongside the lawyer’s home address, according to reporting from The Center Square.
U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a clear warning in the aftermath of the arrest: “We will hold perpetrators of violent threats accountable, and anyone who makes these threats online will not be allowed to hide behind their screens.” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli echoed the message, declaring, “There is zero tolerance for political violence, especially for threats directed at the President,” and, “Threatening an elected official with violence is a serious offense, and you will be arrested and charged, as Mr. Southworth found out.”
Federal prosecutors allege that Southworth’s conduct went beyond online threats. According to court documents referenced by the New York Post, he published the Trump lawyer’s home address and family phone numbers and contacted the family at least 13 times. Southworth is also accused of selling merchandise displaying threats against Trump, further raising the stakes over how digital platforms can become tools for both harassment and incitement.
Special Agent in Charge Armando Marquez of the U.S. Secret Service’s Los Angeles Field Office praised the collaborative effort behind the arrest, stating, “We are grateful for the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California for their partnership and thorough work in this case.” The FBI and Secret Service continue to investigate the case as prosecutors move forward with the indictment.
Southworth’s arrest is the latest in a series of high-profile cases involving threats against public officials. Prosecutors have emphasized that threats, whether made in person or online, will not be tolerated. “Threats against the President of the United States are federal crimes. We will not tolerate threats of political violence in the United States,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, as quoted by Fox News.
The indictment accuses Southworth of a coordinated effort: repeatedly posting violent threats, publishing private addresses and contact information, and sending threatening voicemails. His website allegedly sold stickers stating “Kill Trump,” a detail that highlights the aggressive nature of this campaign, as prosecutors describe it. The charges send a clear message that law enforcement agencies will use every tool available to prosecute those who cross the line from speech to explicit threats or harassment.
Law enforcement has had to remain vigilant in the face of escalating threats against political figures and their families. As seen in cases like the recent security incident at Mar-a-Lago, protecting public officials and their loved ones has become an increasingly complex challenge.
Despite the federal indictment, several questions remain unanswered. The precise dates of Southworth’s alleged activity, the exact statutes behind each charge, and his motive have not been made public. Southworth’s arraignment ended with a not guilty plea, but he has issued no further statement. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California declined additional comment, and the investigation remains ongoing.
As the process moves forward, the case underscores the need for a consistent, law-and-order approach to threats against elected leaders. Prosecutors, investigators, and security agencies must remain focused on swift accountability, because political violence, regardless of its source or target, erodes the very foundation of our constitutional order.
The law must draw a hard line against those who would try to intimidate or endanger public servants, no matter which side of the aisle they target.
