Podcaster Indicted Over ‘Kill Trump’ Rants

Federal prosecutors say a Los Angeles podcaster crossed the line from rage to criminal threats, and now faces prison for it.

Story Snapshot

Grand jury indictment charges threats to kill President Trump, cyberstalking, and harassing calls
Arrest took place in Los Angeles after months of alleged posts and voicemails
Prosecutors say the targets included President Trump’s personal lawyer and his family
Defense spin calls earlier “Kill Donald Trump” language “just rhetoric,” per court-paper reporting

Indictment Lays Out Three Federal Crimes

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California announced a three-count indictment of Benjamin Azariah Southworth. The charges are threats against the President, cyberstalking, and harassing interstate phone calls. Federal agents arrested Southworth at his apartment in Los Angeles. The press release states the case centers on social media posts, voicemails, and a pattern of contact aimed at President Trump’s personal lawyer and the lawyer’s family. An indictment is an allegation, not a conviction.

Local outlets reported the arrest followed months of online posts and direct messages. Coverage says prosecutors cite videos and statements that call for violence, plus calls that targeted the attorney and family members. The timeline runs across this year and describes repeated acts, not a single outburst. That scope matters in federal court because a “course of conduct” can prove intent and harm. The arrest confirms prosecutors believe the evidence meets that threshold.

What Prosecutors Say Happened And Why It Matters

Prosecutors describe a simple, hard edge: threats to kill the sitting President, doxxing, and harassment of a private citizen who serves as the President’s personal lawyer. That conduct, if proven, lands far outside protected speech. Federal law treats threats against the President as a national security risk. Cyberstalking laws target repeated behavior that causes fear or substantial emotional distress. Harassing interstate calls criminalize repeated, abusive contact made across state lines. This is law-and-order territory that protects families and public safety.

Reporting that draws on court papers adds that Southworth later framed a stark “Kill Donald Trump” line as “just rhetoric.” A separate post attributed to him claimed he had been vocal in calling for the execution of Donald Trump. Prosecutors will likely argue those are not jokes or metaphors when paired with targeted calls and personal info. Defense counsel may say the statements were political hyperbole. Juries tend to look at context: words, repetition, targeting, and real-world impact.

Free Speech Stops At True Threats And Stalking

Federal threat and cyberstalking cases have increased with social media. Research tied to the Department of Justice shows federal cyberstalking prosecutions rose through the last decade, peaking at 80 cases in 2019. These cases often turn on intent, pattern, and the link between digital posts and a real person. Investigators face hurdles in attribution, but when they charge, they claim the evidence is strong and repeated. That is the posture here: multiple acts across platforms and calls to a known target.

𝐅𝐄𝐃𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐋𝐀 𝐏𝐎𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐎 𝐊!𝐋𝐋 𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐌𝐏, 𝐃𝐎𝐗𝐗𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐋𝐀𝐖𝐘𝐄𝐑'𝐒 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘

Federal agents dragged a Los Angeles podcaster out of his Westlake apartment Thursday morning — and prosecutors say his own… pic.twitter.com/pYgUoCEImg

— M.A. Rothman (@MichaelARothman) September 4, 2026

American conservative values draw a bright line: argue hard, but do not threaten, doxx, or terrorize families. Public square speech is robust. It is not a shield for violence or stalking. When a person posts about killing the President and then targets his lawyer’s home life, that crosses into criminal conduct if the facts match the indictment. The presumption of innocence still stands. But the case shows a basic norm: free debate ends where fear, force, and personal targeting begin.

What Comes Next In Court

The government must prove every count beyond a reasonable doubt. Expect prosecutors to show timestamps, platform records, phone logs, and the content they say crossed the line. Expect the defense to stress political speech, satire, or hyperbole. The judge will instruct the jury on “true threats” and on the elements of cyberstalking. If the jury sees a sustained push to intimidate a public figure’s lawyer and family, the law gives them tools to punish it. If doubt wins, the First Amendment holds the field.