A Pennsylvania man has been indicted and charged with making violent threats against former Vice President and current presidential candidate Kamala Harris, according to federal prosecutors.
Steven Alexander Hartford, 37, was arrested after a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging him with two counts of making threats against a major candidate for the office of the president. The charges stem from a series of alarming posts made on social media in 2024.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Hartford used the TikTok account with the handle “thealex13one13” to issue threats directed at Harris, who previously served as California’s attorney general. The threats began in the summer of 2024 and quickly escalated in nature and frequency.
The first incident occurred 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 approximately 7:32 p.m., Hartford allegedly commented, “I will assassinate her if she runs for pres.,” according to court documents.
Later that same evening, another Daily Mail video was posted to TikTok, this one showing Harris with the caption, “Could [Kamala Harris] replace Joe Biden?” Just 24 minutes later, Hartford responded, “I will assassinate her.”
The following day, Hartford allegedly posted additional threats, including “22 250 coming her way,” “5.56 for her,” and “5.56 waiting for her.” Authorities believe these refer to high-velocity rifle cartridges commonly used in firearms, indicating a potential intent to carry out the threats.
The indictment is part of a broader DOJ initiative known as “Operation Take Back America,” a campaign aimed at targeting violent crime, drug trafficking, and threats against public officials. The operation consolidates resources from the DOJ’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood programs.
If convicted, Hartford could face up to 10 years in federal prison for each charge, in addition to supervised release, fines, and other penalties.
During his initial court appearance on Monday, Hartford pleaded not guilty to both charges. U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan E. Schwab ordered his release under several conditions, including the surrender of his passport, restricted travel within the Middle District of Pennsylvania, a ban on firearm possession, and mandatory participation in a substance abuse treatment program.
Hartford is scheduled to stand trial on August 25, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Julia K. Munley, a Biden appointee. The case remains under federal investigation.