Who Is Benjamin Azariah Southworth? Podcaster Arrested

Benjamin Azariah Southworth is a 40-year-old Los Angeles podcaster, writer and former Christian television host who was arrested on September 3, 2026, after a federal grand jury indicted him on charges of threatening to kill President Donald Trump, cyberstalking and making harassing interstate telephone calls. Federal prosecutors accuse Southworth of using Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and his own website to repeatedly advocate for Trump’s assassination between January and May 2026. The indictment also accuses him of publishing the home address of one of Trump’s personal attorneys and harassing members of the attorney’s family.

Benjamin Azariah Southworth Arrest

Federal Agents Arrested Southworth On September 3, 2026. Authorities took Southworth into custody Thursday morning at his apartment in the Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles after a federal grand jury returned an indictment against him. [Los Angeles Times] [ABC7 Los Angeles]

Southworth Was Indicted On Three Federal Counts. Prosecutors charged him with threats against the president, cyberstalking and harassing telephone calls in interstate communications. [ABC7 Los Angeles] [FOX 11]

Alleged Threats Against Donald Trump

Prosecutors Say Southworth Repeatedly Advocated For Trump’s Assassination. The indictment alleges that between January and May 2026 he used several online platforms to post statements threatening violence against the president. [ABC7 Los Angeles]

An April 7 Instagram Video Allegedly Called For Trump To Be Killed. Prosecutors say Southworth stated that he had publicly advocated for Trump’s execution and directly urged that Trump be killed. [ABC7 Los Angeles] [FOX 11]

Prosecutors Also Cite Earlier Messages Expressing A Desire To See Trump Dead. Charging-document reporting says Southworth allegedly wrote in January that he wanted Trump dead and would not pass up an opportunity to kill him if given the chance. [FOX 11]

Social Media Posts

The Indictment Covers Activity On Instagram, TikTok And YouTube. Prosecutors say Southworth used those platforms, along with a personal website, to distribute the alleged threats and other posts attacking Trump and his supporters. [ABC7 Los Angeles]

Federal Prosecutors Say The Conduct Lasted From January Through May 2026. The alleged threat campaign was not based on a single post but on multiple online communications over several months. [ABC7 Los Angeles]

Trump Attorney And Family Allegedly Targeted

Southworth Is Also Accused Of Targeting One Of Trump’s Personal Attorneys. Prosecutors identify the person in the indictment as “Victim 1” and say the attorney had served as Trump’s personal lawyer. [ABC7 Los Angeles]

Prosecutors Say Southworth Published The Attorney’s Home Address. A January TikTok post allegedly included the residence address along with photographs of the attorney and the home. [ABC7 Los Angeles]

The Post Allegedly Included The Message “No Peace For Traitors.” Federal prosecutors cite the phrase as part of the alleged harassment campaign targeting the attorney. [ABC7 Los Angeles]

Attorney’s Son And Wife Allegedly Harassed

Southworth Is Accused Of Targeting The Attorney’s Son. Prosecutors say he left a series of abusive online messages and voicemails for the son between January and May. [ABC7 Los Angeles]

He Is Also Accused Of Making Harassing Calls To The Attorney’s Wife. The third federal count concerns alleged interstate telephone harassment directed at her. [ABC7 Los Angeles]

Prosecutors Say One Voicemail Warned That “Justice Comes To Your Door.” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli cited the alleged message while announcing Southworth’s arrest. [Los Angeles Times] [ABC7 Los Angeles]

Cyberstalking Charge

The Alleged Campaign Against The Attorney’s Family Led To A Federal Cyberstalking Charge. Prosecutors accuse Southworth of using online communications and publication of personal information as part of sustained harassment. [FOX 11]

Cyberstalking Carries A Maximum Five-Year Federal Prison Sentence In This Case. Prosecutors say that is the statutory maximum if Southworth is convicted on the count. [ABC7 Los Angeles]

Threat Against The President Charge

The Federal Threat Charge Also Carries Up To Five Years In Prison. Federal law criminalizes knowing and willful threats to kill, kidnap or inflict bodily harm upon the president. [ABC7 Los Angeles]

The Harassing-Calls Charge Carries Up To Two Years. If convicted of all three counts and given consecutive maximum sentences, Southworth could face up to 12 years in federal prison. [ABC7 Los Angeles] [FOX 11]

Who Is Benjamin Azariah Southworth?

Southworth Is A Podcaster And Writer. The Los Angeles Times identifies him as the host of “Yass, Jesus!,” an interfaith and sexuality-affirming comedy podcast. [Los Angeles Times]

He Previously Hosted The Christian Television Program “The Remix.” The syndicated youth reality and music show featured Christian recording artists. [Los Angeles Times]

Southworth Later Became An LGBTQ Advocate. He publicly came out as gay in 2008 and subsequently became involved in advocacy concerning LGBTQ people and Christianity. [Los Angeles Times]

Federal Prosecutors Respond

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli Said Political Violence Would Not Be Tolerated. Essayli said threatening an elected official is a serious federal offense and pointed to Southworth’s arrest as an example of the consequences. [ABC7 Los Angeles]

Attorney General Todd Blanche Said The Justice Department Would Pursue Online Threats. Blanche said federal authorities would hold people responsible for violent threats even when those threats were made online. [ABC7 Los Angeles]

Court Case

Southworth Was Scheduled To Make His Initial Federal Court Appearance On September 3. Prosecutors said he was expected to appear and be arraigned in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles following his arrest. [ABC7 Los Angeles]

His Pretrial Release Or Detention Status Had Not Yet Been Publicly Established In The Initial Reports. The court was expected to address custody and future scheduling following his first appearance.

Case Status

Southworth Faces Three Pending Federal Charges. They are threats against the president, cyberstalking and harassing telephone calls in interstate communications. [ABC7 Los Angeles]

The Indictment Accuses Him Of Conduct Spanning Several Months. Prosecutors say the alleged threats and harassment occurred from January through May 2026. [ABC7 Los Angeles]

The Charges Have Not Been Proven In Court. Southworth remains accused while the federal criminal case proceeds.