2023 swatting of American politicians
DateDecember 2023–present
Location
United States
GoalsUnknown, possibly to intimidate political figures
MethodsDoxxing, swatting, bomb threats, and other forms of violent incidents
StatusInvestigations ongoing

Since December 2023, there has been widespread doxxing, swatting, bomb scares, and other violent threats made against government buildings and prominent figures in American politics. The initial incidents primarily targeted members of the Republican Party or conservatives.[1] Beginning in late December, members of the Democratic Party began to be increasingly targeted as well.[2] The motivations, and whether it is the product of one or multiple individuals, is presently unknown.[3] The swattings have extended into January 2024.[4]

Background

Swatting is a criminal harassment tactic that involves false reporting in order to generate a police response. Information in the hoaxes is often obtained through data broker websites, compromised accounts, and leaked databases to obtain, often through legal means, personally identifying information about the individual which can be used for swatting.[5]

Incidents

Tommy Tuberville, a senator from Alabama, was swatted on December 25.[6] Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene was also swatted on Christmas Day.[7][8] Republican Representative Brandon Williams was swatted the same day, prompting the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office to contact him.[9][8] Jack Smith–the special counsel overseeing the prosecution in two of Donald Trump's federal cases–and Boston mayor Michelle Wu were also swatted on Christmas day.[10][11]

On December 26 in Ohio, attorney general Dave Yost, state representative Kevin Miller, state senator Andrew Brenner, and former state representative Rick Carfagna were all swatted.[12] Florida senator Rick Scott was swatted on December 27.[13][8]

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows was swatted on December 29, a day after she removed Trump from the state's ballots due to his involvement in the January 6 United States Capitol attack.[14] The same day, George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley, who defended former President Donald Trump during his two impeachment trials, was swatted at his Fairfax, Virginia, home.[15][16]

California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis was swatted on December 30,[17] as was political philanthropist George Soros.[18] John Paul Mac Isaac, the computer repairman during the Hunter Biden's laptop controversy, was also swatted in late December.[19]

Ken Paxton and Angela Paxton had their home swatted on New Years Day 2024 when they were not at home. Police confirmed they had been called.[20][21] They also allege their home address had been doxed.[20]

On January 3, 2024, dozens of state capitols received bomb threats, leading to evacuations of the Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, and Montana government buildings.[22]

Tanya Chutkan, the judge overseeing the criminal case against Donald Trump for obstructing the 2020 election, was swatted on January 7.[23] On January 11, 2024, Arthur Engoron, the judge overseeing the New York civil fraud trial against the Trump Organization, was also the target of a swatting.[24]

References

  1. ↑ Paybarah, Azi (December 29, 2023). "Marjorie Taylor Greene isn't the only politician to be a swatting target". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  2. ↑ Corbett, Jessica (December 31, 2023). "Threats Rise as Courts Decide Trump's 2024 Ballot in Maine, Colorado". Truthout. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  3. ↑ Matza, Max (December 29, 2023). "US lawmakers targeted by swatting hoaxes in multiple states". BBC News. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  4. ↑ Morris, Kyle (January 2, 2024). "Texas AG Ken Paxton, wife targeted by home 'swatting' on New Year's Day". Fox News. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  5. ↑ Lee, Dave (January 4, 2024). "US Must Stop 'Swatting' From Becoming an Election Weapon". Bloomberg News. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  6. ↑ Helene Hall, Mary (December 30, 2023). "Tommy Tuberville reportedly targeted in swatting call at Auburn home". AL.com. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  7. ↑ Stanton, Andrew (December 28, 2023). "Republicans want to change the law to protect their families". Newsweek. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 Keene, Houston (December 29, 2023). "What is 'swatting,' the 'criminal harassment' hoax that's hit 3 GOP lawmakers since Christmas?". Fox News. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  9. ↑ O'Driscoll, Sean (December 27, 2023). "Christmas Day "swatting" incidents target politicians". Newsweek. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  10. ↑ McColgan, Flint (December 26, 2023). "Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's home 'swatted' on Christmas Day". Boston Herald. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  11. ↑ Kosnar, Michael; Richards, Zoë (January 9, 2024). "Special counsel Jack Smith was targeted by attempted swatting on Christmas Day". NBC News. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  12. ↑ Gallion, Bailey (December 27, 2023). "Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, state lawmakers victims of 'swatting' pranks". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  13. ↑ Somasundaram, Praveena (December 28, 2023). "Rick Scott is latest politician to report swatting at his Fla. home". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  14. ↑ Thiessen, Mark (December 31, 2023). "Maine's secretary of state targeted in swatting call after removing Trump from ballot". PBS NewsHour. Associated Press. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  15. ↑ Suter, Tara (December 29, 2023). "Turley reportedly latest target of swatting spree". The Hill. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  16. ↑ Picket, Kerry (December 30, 2023). "Swatting hits law professor Jonathan Turley". The Washington Times. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  17. ↑ Cadelago, Christopher (January 4, 2024). "California lieutenant governor 'swatted' after push to boot Trump from ballot". Politico. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  18. ↑ Wehner, Greg (January 1, 2024). "Soros' Southampton, NY, estate latest to fall victim to fake 911 'swatting' call". Fox News. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  19. ↑ Arias, Pilar (December 31, 2023). "Hunter Biden laptop repairman John Paul Mac Isaac's home 'swatted'". Fox News. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  20. 1 2 Summerville, Krista; Osborne, Ryan (January 3, 2024). "Texas AG Ken Paxton, wife Angela say their North Texas home was targeted in 'swatting' incident". WFAA-TV. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  21. ↑ Hartley, James (January 3, 2024). "AG Ken Paxton says his McKinney home was targeted in 'swatting' 911 call on New Year's Day". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  22. ↑ Prater, Nia (January 3, 2024). "State Capitols Around U.S. Evacuated After Hoax Bomb Threats". Intelligencer. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  23. ↑ Lybrand, Holmes; Lotz, Avery (January 8, 2024). "Federal judge overseeing election case against Trump was victim of swatting incident". CNN. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  24. ↑ Bromwich, Jonah E. (January 11, 2024). "Judge in Trump's Civil Fraud Trial is Swatted at His Home". The New York Times. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
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