Federal prosecutors arrested a Los Angeles podcaster Thursday after a grand jury indictment charged him with threatening to kill President Donald Trump through social media posts that explicitly called for the president’s execution.

Arrest and Charges Filed

Benjamin Azariah Southworth was taken into custody Thursday morning at his Westlake neighborhood apartment in Los Angeles. The podcaster faces three federal charges: threats against the president, cyberstalking, and harassing telephone calls in interstate communications. Southworth pleaded not guilty in court and remains held without bond pending his next court appearance scheduled for next month. Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the Department of Justice would respond with the full force of the law as threats against the president escalate.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli confirmed the arrest follows a federal grand jury indictment returned Wednesday. The charges carry serious penalties if Southworth is convicted. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for threatening the president, five years for cyberstalking, and two years for telephonic harassment.

Social Media Threats Documented

According to the indictment, Southworth used YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok accounts along with a website to publicly express hatred toward President Trump and his supporters between January 2026 and May 2026. Prosecutors allege he posted violent threats against the president through these online platforms. On April 7, Southworth allegedly posted an Instagram video stating he had been vocal in calling for Trump’s execution and declaring the government illegitimate while directly stating to kill Donald Trump.

Three months earlier in January, prosecutors say Southworth published a TikTok post revealing the home address of an attorney who previously served as Trump’s personal lawyer. The post included photographs of the attorney and his residence with the caption stating there would be no peace for traitors. From January through May, Southworth allegedly left abusive online messages and voicemails for the attorney’s son and made harassing phone calls to the attorney’s wife.

Zero Tolerance Policy

Federal prosecutors emphasized their commitment to prosecuting threats against elected officials. Essayli stated there is zero tolerance for political violence, particularly threats directed at the president. He stressed that threatening an elected official with violence constitutes a serious offense with real consequences. The Attorney General warned that perpetrators of violent threats would be held accountable and that making threats online would not allow anyone to hide behind their screens. The case demonstrates the Justice Department’s approach to prosecuting threats made through social media platforms that have become increasingly common venues for political discourse and, occasionally, violent rhetoric.