A former podcaster from Los Angeles charged in connection with death threats against President Trump is expected to ask a federal judge Tuesday for release on bond while awaiting trial.
Benjamin Azariah Southworth, 40, of the Westlake neighborhood, was charged in a three-count federal grand jury indictment this month with threats against the president, cyberstalking and making harassing telephone calls in interstate communications.
He allegedly threatened to assassinate Trump and his personal attorney, Jay Sekulow, FBI Director Kash Patel posted on X.
The indictment filed in Los Angeles federal court alleges Southworth used social media platforms including Instagram, YouTube and TikTok to “publicly engage in and/or encourage the abuse, harassment and intimidation of, and violence against, President Trump.”
The second victim was not identified in the indictment but was described as “President Trump’s personal lawyer and that lawyer’s family.”
Southworth is the former host of the podcast “Yass, Jesus!” and a Christian reality show called “The Remix.”
He is expected to ask U.S. District Judge Wesley Hsu on Tuesday to consider setting conditions for release on bond while awaiting trial. He was previously ordered held in custody pending trial by a magistrate judge in downtown Los Angeles.
On April 7, Southworth allegedly posted a video on his Instagram account that contained a series of threats, including, “I have been vocal in calling for the execution of Donald Trump” and “This government is illegitimate and out of control. It’s time for course correction. Kill Donald Trump,” court papers show.
Federal prosecutors contend that three months earlier, Southworth published a post on his TikTok account listing the home address of the personal attorney, along with a photograph of the attorney and another photograph of the lawyer’s home. In the same post, Southworth allegedly stated, “No peace for traitors.”
From January 2026 to May 2026, Southworth also left a series of abusive messages online and over voicemail to the attorney’s son, and made harassing telephone calls to the lawyer’s wife, prosecutors allege.
Southworth’s federal public defense attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.
“Southworth is charged with posting videos calling for President Trump’s assassination, then targeted the family of the president’s personal attorney by publishing their home address and phone numbers, and leaving voicemails threatening `Justice comes to your door,'” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in a post on X.
“Threats against the president of the United States are federal crimes,” the post said. “We will not tolerate threats of political violence in the United States. My office will prosecute anyone who crosses that line to the fullest extent of the law.”
If convicted, Southworth would face up to five years behind bars for threatening the president, a possible maximum of five years for cyberstalking and up to two years for telephonic harassment, prosecutors said.