The list of elected officials targeted in swatting incidents this week is growing. On Christmas Day, Republican Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Brandon Williams of New York took to X to detail what happened. For MTG, it has happened so many times that police were able to speak with her security team and determine there was no need to show up. The law enforcement officers who went to Williams’ home were also able to contact him before arriving. On the other side of the aisle, Democrat Mayor of Boston Michelle Wu was swatted on Christmas Day, with a 911 call coming into her security detail about a person shot on the other side of the two-family home she lives in, which was quickly determined to be a hoax.
While nothing happened in these cases, swatting is done to draw a major response from law enforcement, especially with a SWAT team. According to the FBI, such hoaxes are “dangerous to first responders and to the victims. The callers often tell tales of hostages about to be executed or bombs about to go off. The community is placed in danger as responders rush to the scene, taking them away from real emergencies. And the officers are placed in danger as unsuspecting residents may try to defend themselves."
On Wednesday, Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) said he, too, was swatted.
“Last night, while at dinner with my wife, cowards ‘swatted’ my home in Naples. These criminals wasted the time & resources of our law enforcement in a sick attempt to terrorize my family,” he wrote on X.
Last night, while at dinner with my wife, cowards “swatted” my home in Naples. These criminals wasted the time & resources of our law enforcement in a sick attempt to terrorize my family.
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) December 28, 2023
Ann & I want to thank @NaplesPolice & @CollierSheriff for all they do to keep us safe.
Greene, frustrated by how often she's targeted, vowed to introduce legislation tracking down the perpetrators.
"I have been swatted 8 times but the FBI can’t seem to figure out who is responsible for the swatting and says the law doesn’t allow them to track them down," Greene said. "The FBI can do so many things, has even abused FISA to spy on hundreds of thousands of Americans, but can not figure out who wants me killed by a hail of bullets fired by a SWAT team responding to murder suicide calls supposedly coming from me. Thankfully my local police are far too smart, know me well, and know exactly what these swatting calls are. I know there are good FBI agents that are completely sick and tired of the Biden administration they work under. Swatting is extremely dangerous and people have been killed as a result from swatting calls. It’s also a waste of police time and resources and harassment. I will be introducing legislation to track down swatters. Thank you to everyone who has sent well wishes for me and my family. I will never stop fighting for what is right and I will always put America first! No matter what or who attacks me."
She later said both of her daughters were targeted as well.
Both my daughter’s houses just got swatted today.
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) December 28, 2023
Big thanks to the police who responded! We appreciate you and support you!
Whoever is doing this, you are going to get caught and it won’t be funny to you anymore.@FBI
MTG wondered if "our government [is] under attack."
Swatting calls are coming in on many Members of Congress, Senators, State Reps and Mayors and Lt Governors, and many members of our families.
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) December 28, 2023
Is our government under attack?
Swatting calls are also police harassment and an attack on police.
We need to stop this now.