California man sentenced for graphic threat against conservative commentator Benny Johnson and his family days after Charlie Kirk’s murder
Benny Johnson said his family has been living with heightened security at their home and denounced the encroaching political violence afflicting the U.S.
A California man received an 11-month federal prison sentence Aug. 26 after threatening the lives of conservative commentator Benny Johnson, his wife, and their four children.
George Russell Isbell Jr., 69, also received two years of probation and a restraining order, Johnson said in an Aug. 26 X post announcing the sentencing. Isbell pleaded guilty June 25 to mailing what the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida described as an “angry, offensive, and threatening letter.”
The letter said Johnson, who resides in Florida, needed “to be exterminated” and expressed hope that someone would shoot him, according to the Department of Justice.
The letter also stated: “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!”
Isbell mailed the letter to Johnson’s Tampa home on Sept. 18, 2025, eight days after conservative political activist Charlie Kirk was murdered during an event at Utah Valley University. The letter referred to Johnson as “Charlie Kirk Jr.”
Isbell was arrested Oct. 7 in San Diego.
In the Aug. 26 statement about the sentencing, Johnson noted the fear his children and wife were subject to and shared that his family has also faced other threats.
“This letter, compounded with a multitude of other physical threats at our doorstep had my wife terrified,” he wrote. “Our kids were scared. We had to hire security. New cameras. Gates. We had police outside our house for months. My kids were forced to shelter inside out of fear for their safety. This is terrorism.”
“This type of evil has no place in any civil society. Having a different opinion shouldn't put a target on your back. We thank the judge for ruling in favor of our God-given liberties,” he added. “We thank you deeply for all the prayers and messages you've sent in support of our family.”
Johnson also praised the judge’s acknowledgement of growing political violence and the efforts to curtail it.
“The Judge did a profound job of reasoning through the sentencing and explaining the weight of rising political violence and its effect on our Constitutional freedoms. The Judge wanted this case to be a deterrence for others who would terrorize a family,” he added.
Johnson cited his Christian faith in emphasizing the importance of forgiveness.
“As a Christian, I encourage you all not to harbor hate,” he wrote. “Choose forgiveness. We forgive this man. And we leave justice in the hands of righteous men to wield for the terror of evil men.”
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