A recent surge in false swatting calls targeting high-profile public officials has raised alarms about the safety and security of those who serve in the public eye. The latest incident involved a fake emergency call to a home owned by U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing the federal election subversion case against former President Donald Trump.
On Sunday night, police responded to a report of a shooting at the Washington, D.C. home linked to Judge Chutkan, only to discover that it was a false alarm. This comes in the wake of other similar incidents, including threatening calls made to the courthouse and a surge in swatting directed at other public officials over the holidays.
Judge Chutkan has been the target of numerous threats since she was assigned Trump’s case last year. Notably, a Texas woman was arrested in August after calling the courthouse and threatening to kill Chutkan and other officials.
This escalation in false swatting calls also extends beyond individual homes, with state capitols and courthouses in several states being targeted by bomb threats last week. These threats, deemed a hoax by the FBI, have prompted lockdowns and evacuations, causing widespread disruption and concern.
In response to the surge in threats, Attorney General Merrick Garland has labeled the situation as “deeply disturbing”, emphasizing that “These threats of violence are unacceptable. They threaten the fabric of our democracy.”
Swatting, which involves making prank calls to emergency services with the intent of triggering a police response, poses a serious threat to the safety and security of those affected by these false reports. As law enforcement agencies continue to investigate these incidents, it is clear that immediate action is needed to prevent further escalation and protect public officials and institutions from these dangerous hoaxes.