Conservative commentator Benny Johnson didn’t waste any time calling out the Democratic Party after the Department of Justice arrested a California man who sent a horrifying letter fantasizing about Johnson’s assassination. The note — mailed to Johnson’s home, where he lives with his wife and four young children — described in gruesome detail how the writer wanted Johnson killed “in an open field, just like Charlie,” and gloating about “how much blood would come out of my head and neck when it was blown off.” Charming stuff.
Johnson, who founded TPUSA Productions and was close to the late Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, stood with Attorney General Pam Bondi at a Friday press conference and made the case bluntly: this isn’t fringe rhetoric — it’s the logical outgrowth of a political culture that has normalized violence. According to Johnson, the suspect — identified as George Russell Isbell Jr. — targeted him explicitly because Johnson is “a white, male, Christian Trump supporter.” The letter even celebrated the idea of orphaning his children and widowing his wife.
Johnson pointed to recent uncovered text messages from Virginia Democrat Jay Jones — in which Jones allegedly fantasized about murdering a GOP leader “with two bullets to the head,” killing that leader’s children, and desecrating graves — as further evidence that violence has been mainstreamed in some Democratic circles. He asked the obvious question: “Is any Democrat courageous enough to disavow violence?”
Of course, the response has been underwhelming: the piece notes that nearly all Democrats have refused to call on Jones to step down from his race. So much for condemning threats against political opponents — apparently some will look the other way until violence lands at their own doorstep.
Johnson’s wife, Kate, also called on California Governor Gavin Newsom to disavow the man who sent the threatening letter, pointing out the suspect lives in his state. Bondi emphasized that Johnson “is a well-known media personality carrying a message very similar to Charlie’s, grounded largely in faith and love of country,” and reminded everyone this attack came just days after Kirk’s assassination. The DOJ says the letter was mailed around Sept. 18 and included lines like, “Maybe someone will blow your head off!!! We can hope!” — language clearly meant to terrorize.
Isbell now faces federal charges and up to five years in prison. That’s the law doing its job — prosecuting threats and protecting citizens — which is exactly what we should expect.
Johnson’s demand is simple and unavoidable: political violence must be rejected across the aisle. If we want a functioning republic, elected officials and party leaders need to make that denunciation loud and unequivocal.
There’s some good news amid the ugliness: the DOJ acted swiftly, a suspect is in custody, and voices like Johnson’s are forcing the conversation into the open. Americans who value peaceful political discourse — regardless of party — should take heart and keep pushing for accountability and common sense. ??
