A 37-year-old Pennsylvania man has been arrested for allegedly threatening to assassinate former Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris, repeatedly making violent statements on social media. According to court records, Steven Alexander Hartford was indicted by a federal grand jury last week on two counts of threatening a major presidential candidate.
The Department of Justice stated that Hartford used the TikTok account “thealex13one13” to issue the threats, beginning in summer 2024.
The first alleged threat occurred on July 21, 2024, in response to a 17-second Daily Mail video speculating about Harris’s potential presidential run. At 7:32 p.m., Hartford reportedly commented, “I will assassinate her if she runs for pres.” He followed up with a similar comment — “I will assassinate her” — on another Harris-related video later that same evening.
Authorities say Hartford posted additional threatening comments the following day, including “22 250 coming her way,” “5.56 for her,” and “5.56 waiting for her” — references believed to point to specific types of rifle ammunition.
The case falls under “Operation Take Back America,” a Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating violent crime, drug cartels, and transnational criminal organizations.
If convicted, Hartford could face up to 10 years in prison for each charge, along with fines, supervised release, and other penalties. At his first court appearance Monday, he pleaded not guilty and was released on conditions that include surrendering his passport, remaining within the Middle District of Pennsylvania, refraining from gun possession, and enrolling in a substance abuse treatment program.
His trial is scheduled to begin on August 25, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Julia K. Munley.
