A 37-year-old Pennsylvania man was arrested for allegedly threatening to kill former Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris, claiming on social media that he would “assassinate her.”
A federal grand jury indicted Steven Alexander Hartford last week on two counts of making threats against a major candidate for the presidency, according to court documents. According to a news release from the Department of Justice, Hartford accessed and controlled the TikTok username “thealex13one13” from which he made threats against California’s former attorney general beginning in the summer of 2024.
The first threat was allegedly made on July 21, 2024, in response to a 17-second video posted by the Daily Mail with the caption, “Will Kamala Harris be the next Democratic nominee?” At 7:32 p.m. that evening, Hartford allegedly said, “I will assassinate her if she runs for president,” according to a copy of the indictment.
Later that day, the Daily Mail posted a 12-second video of Harris on TikTok with the caption, “Could [Kamala Harris] replace Joe Biden?”
At 7:56 p.m. that evening, Hartford commented on the video, “I will assassinate her.”
The next day, Hartford made several other threats against Harris under the username “thealex13one13,” including: “22 250 coming her way,” “5.56 for her,” and “5.56 waiting for her.”
It appears that “22 250” refers to a high-velocity 22-caliber rifle cartridge, whereas “5.56” refers to another rifle cartridge commonly used in assault rifles.
The case stems from “Operation Take Back America,” which it describes as a “nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.”
The operation aims to consolidate efforts and resources from the DOJ’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
If convicted, Hartford faces up to ten years in federal prison for each charge, as well as fines, supervised release, and “the imposition of a special assessment.”
Hartford made his first court appearance on Monday and pleaded not guilty to both charges.
According to court documents, U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan E. Schwab ordered Hartford’s release on the condition that he surrender his passport, limit his travel to the Middle District of Pennsylvania, not possess a firearm, and participate in a substance abuse program.
Hartford is scheduled to stand trial before U.S. District Judge Julia K. Munley, a Joe Biden appointee, on August 25, 2025.
