FILE – Vice President Kamala Harris boards Air Force Two as she departs Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport in Westfield, Mass., July 27, 2024 (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough, Pool, File).
A 37-year-old man in Pennsylvania has been arrested for allegedly threatening to kill former Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris, repeatedly claiming on social media that he would “assassinate her.”
Steven Alexander Hartford was indicted by a federal grand jury last week and charged with two counts of making threats against a major candidate for the office of the president, court documents show. According to a news release from the Department of Justice, Hartford accessed and controlled the username “thealex13one13” on TikTok, under which he made the threats against the former attorney general of California, beginning in the summer of 2024.
The first threat was allegedly issued on July 21, 2024, in response to a 17-second video posted by the Daily Mail that was captioned, “Will Kamala Harris be the next Democratic nominee?” At about 7:32 p.m. that evening, Hartford allegedly commented, “I will assassinate her if she runs for pres.,” a copy of the indictment states.
Later that same day, the Daily Mail posted a 12-second video to TikTok that showed Harris and was captioned, “Could [Kamala Harris] replace Joe Biden?”
At about 7:56 p.m. that evening, Hartford responded to the video by commenting, “I will assassinate her.”
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The following day, authorities say that Hartford made several other threats directed at Harris under the username “thealex13one13,” including: “22 250 coming her way,” “5.56 for her,” and “5.56 waiting for her.”
It appears likely that “22 250” is a reference to a high-velocity 22-caliber rifle cartridge while “5.56” is likely a reference to another rifle cartridge typically used in assault rifles.
The U.S. Attorney”s Office noted that 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 attempts to streamline efforts and resources from the DOJ’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
If convicted, Hartford faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for each charge as well as fines, supervised release, and “the imposition of a special assessment.”
Hartford on Monday pleaded not guilty to both charges during his first appearance in court.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan E. Schwab ordered Hartford released from detention provided surrender his passport, restrict his travel to the Middle District of Pennsylvania, not possess a firearm, and participate in a substance abuse program, per court documents.
Hartford is currently scheduled to go to trial before U.S. District Judge Julia K. Munley, a Joe Biden appointee, on Aug. 25, 2025.
