A Los Angelesresident and “one-time podcaster” was arrested on a federal indictment charging him with threatening to kill President Donald Trump, prosecutors alleged.
Benjamin Azariah Southworth, 40, is 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 the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Prosecutors alleged Southworth cyberstalked and harassed Trump’s personal lawyer — who was not identified in the indictment — and their family.
Southworth was arrested on Thursday, Sept. 3, and is expected to be arraigned this afternoon, according to a news release from prosecutors.
Southworth allegedly said in a public
Instagram video in April that it’s believed that “calling for the execution of the president of the United States will get you put on a list or arrested.” He said that he has friends who are concerned this would happen to him as has “been vocal in calling for the execution of Donald Trump,” according to the indictment. The USA TODAY Network did not immediately find the social media account being referred to in the indictment. A legal representative for Southworth listed on a court calendar did not immediately respond to the USA TODAY Network's request for comment.
It's one of several alleged statements that Southworth made against the president in the indictment.
According to prosecutors, Southworth posted on social media listing the address of an attorney who had been Trump’s personal lawyer, their photo and a photo of their residence. Southworth allegedly stated, “No peace for traitors.”
Southworth faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for threatening the president, a maximum of five years in federal prison for cyberstalking and a maximum of two years in federal prison for “telephonic harassment” if he is convicted, according to prosecutors.
The U.S. Secret Service and the FBI are investigating, according to prosecutors.
Paris Barraza is a reporter covering Los Angeles and Southern California for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at pbarraza@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LA man, podcaster threatened to kill Trump, prosecutors allege
