Christian Podcaster Arrested After Allegedly Publishing 'Kill Donald Trump' Threat Videos Online

Los Angeles podcaster Benjamin Azariah Southworth, 40, was arrested on 3 September after a federal grand jury indicted him on charges of threatening to kill President Donald Trump, cyberstalking and making harassing telephone calls in interstate communications, according to the US Attorney's Office for the Central District of California. Southworth pleaded not guilty later that day.

For context, prosecutors allege that Southworth used social media accounts and a website between January and May 2026 to post material threatening Trump and to harass an attorney who had previously served as Trump's personal lawyer and members of the lawyer's family. An indictment contains allegations only, and Southworth is presumed innocent unless proved guilty.

Federal Indictment Details Alleged Threats

The Justice Department said Southworth was charged with one count of threats against the president, one count of cyberstalking and one count of harassing telephone calls in interstate communications.

According to prosecutors, Southworth posted an Instagram video on 7 April in which he allegedly said he had been 'calling for the execution of Donald Trump' before later saying, 'It's time for course correction. Kill Donald Trump.'

Federal prosecutors also allege that about three months earlier, Southworth published a TikTok post listing the home address of an attorney who had served as Trump's personal lawyer. The post allegedly included a photograph of the lawyer, another image of the residence and the words 'No peace for traitors.'

From January through May, prosecutors say Southworth left a series of abusive online and voicemail messages for the lawyer's son and made harassing telephone calls to the lawyer's wife. The Justice Department did not identify the three alleged victims by name in its public announcement.

The US Secret Service and FBI are investigating the case, while Assistant US Attorney William Kanellis of the Domestic Security and Immigration Crimes Section is prosecuting it.

Separate Video Followed Supreme Court Ruling

The Los Angeles Times reported that court documents describe another video Southworth allegedly posted on 31 March, the day the US Supreme Court issued its decision in Chiles v. Salazar.

In that case, the Supreme Court held that Colorado's law restricting conversion therapy, as applied to the petitioner's talk therapy, regulated speech based on viewpoint. The justices reversed the lower-court judgment and sent the case back for further proceedings, finding that the lower courts had not applied sufficiently rigorous First Amendment scrutiny.

According to the Times, Southworth referred in the March video to his own experience with conversion therapy before making a statement calling for Trump's death. The report also said court documents accused Southworth of posting fictitious portrayals of violence against Trump.

Those reported posts remain allegations. The available public materials cited in the case do not establish that Southworth acted on the alleged statements or that he was connected to any separate alleged attack against Trump.

Southworth Pleads Not Guilty

Southworth appeared in federal court in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday and pleaded not guilty. ABC7 reported that he was being held without bond and was due back in court the following month. CBS Los Angeles also reported his not-guilty plea.

First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli said federal authorities would prosecute threats of political violence. 'There is zero tolerance for political violence, especially for threats directed at the President,' he said in the Justice Department statement.

Southworth has worked as a podcaster, writer and former television presenter. The Los Angeles Times described him as the host of Yass, Jesus!, an interfaith and sexuality-affirming comedy podcast. The Justice Department, however, referred to him as a 'one-time podcaster.'

If convicted, Southworth faces a statutory maximum of five years in federal prison on the presidential-threat charge, five years on the cyberstalking charge and two years on the telephonic-harassment charge. Any sentence would be determined by the court if he is convicted.