Internet Troll Faces Charges for Threatening to Assassinate Former Vice President Kamala Harris on Social Media

A man from Pennsylvania faces a federal indictment for allegedly threatening to “assassinate” former Vice President Kamala Harris during the upcoming 2024 election through social media posts. The accused, 37-year-old Steven Hartford of Shippensburg, reportedly made alarming remarks on TikTok, warning Harris about his intent to “assassinate her.” Last week, a federal grand jury indicted Hartford for threatening a major presidential candidate, as stated in a Department of Justice press release. The indictment reveals that Hartford, using the username thealex13one13, issued his initial threat in response to a TikTok video from the Daily Mail posted on July 21, 2024, raising the question of Harris’s candidacy. Furthermore, additional TikTok comments attributed to Hartford included threats of a violent nature. His arrest is part of Operation Take Back America, which aims to address serious crimes. Hartford pleaded not guilty, with a trial set for August 25, 2025, facing up to ten years in prison if convicted.