Los Angeles podcaster charged with threatening to kill Trump
A podcaster from Los Angeles has been arrested on charges of threatening to kill President Trump and harassing the family of Trump’s former personal lawyer, according to federal prosecutors.
Benjamin Azariah Southworth, 40, was arrested Thursday morning in the Westlake neighborhood of L.A., according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. A federal grand jury indicted him Wednesday on charges of threatening the president, cyberstalking and harassing telephone calls.
Prosecutors said Southworth used YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and a website between January and May to express hatred toward Trump and his supporters, encourage harassment and make threats of violence against the president.
In an April 7 video posted to Instagram, Southworth allegedly said: “I have been vocal in calling for the execution of Donald Trump.” He also said: “This government is illegitimate and out of control. It’s time for course correction. Kill Donald Trump.”
Three months earlier, prosecutors said, Southworth posted the home address of a former personal lawyer for Trump, along with photographs of the lawyer and his residence. The post said: “No peace for traitors.”
Southworth also allegedly left abusive online and voicemail messages for the lawyer’s son and made harassing calls to the lawyer’s wife.
If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison for threatening the president, up to five years for cyberstalking and up to two years for telephone harassment. The Secret Service and FBI are investigating.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
