Attorney general announces arrest for threat to conservative influencer
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the arrest of a 69-year-old man accused of sending a threatening letter to conservative influencer Benny Johnson shortly after Charlie Kirk's assassination. The letter, mailed from San Diego, California, explicitly referenced Kirk's killing and called for Johnson's death. Bondi described the sender as a 'coward hiding behind a keyboard' amid rising political violence.
George Isbell Jr., 69, was taken into custody on Tuesday, October 8, 2025, in San Diego, California, and faces federal charges for mailing a threatening communication. The letter was sent to Johnson, who resides in Tampa, Florida, around September 18, 2025, days after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk during a public event on a college campus last month.
According to the Justice Department complaint, the letter stated that Johnson needed to be 'exterminated' and referenced Kirk, writing, 'Maybe someone will blow your head off!!! We can hope! Planning any public engagements? Love to see your head explode and your blood stain the concrete red. What a sight!' It also expressed hope that the American flag would 'strangle the life out of you.' Investigators traced the letter to San Diego via the U.S. Postal Service and identified Isbell through fingerprints.
Johnson immediately contacted the Tampa Police Department upon receiving the letter. The FBI, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and U.S. Postal Service assisted in the probe. U.S. Attorney Gregory Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida noted the rapid response.
Speaking in Tampa on Friday, October 10, 2025, Bondi emphasized the arrest as part of combating political violence. 'We've been living through a horrific cycle of political violence in this country,' she said. 'We are going to catch you... We cannot allow this political violence to continue any longer.' She warned potential copycats: 'We will find you. We will arrest you, we will extradite you, and we will bring you to justice.'
Johnson, who described himself as carrying a message similar to Kirk's based on faith and patriotism, told reporters, 'The major question here is, how many of us need to die?' He added, 'I don't want political violence. I want peace in my nation... I want to be able to debate like Charlie did. I want to be able to raise my family in peace.' If convicted, Isbell faces up to five years in prison.
The incident underscores ongoing tensions following Kirk's death, with Bondi highlighting threats against those promoting conservative views.