A recent surge of "swatting" incidents across America, primarily targeting Republican politicians, has perplexed police agencies and put victims in risk this holiday season, driving lawmakers to demand for stricter anti-swatting laws and harsher penalties.
Swatting entails filing a false complaint to a law enforcement agency, frequently alleging that a violent crime or hostage incident is taking place at the intended victim's home. A heavily armed SWAT team will typically arrive at the unwary victim's home and barge through the door, pistols drawn. Sometimes the outcome is deadly.
Republicans including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost were targeted by swatting attacks last month. Democrats have not been spared either; on Christmas Day, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu took a blow to the face. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that a number of Georgian officials, including the lieutenant governor and at least four state senators, claimed to have been swatted in the past few days.
Greene even reported on X (formerly Twitter) that on December 28, efforts to swatte her two daughters' homes occurred. Greene wrote on Christmas Day that she had received about eight personal swatts.
Kevin Kolbye, a former FBI assistant special agent who investigated swatting crimes, estimates that there are 1,000 swatting events in the US per year. In a 2017 interview, Kolbye—who passed away in October—told Business Insider that swatters frequently pose as someone else and use fictitious phone numbers, making them hard to track down.
Kolbye claimed that because police are compelled to act quickly in response to reported crimes, they frequently fail to differentiate between an actual emergency and a swatting call in the heat of the moment.
In order to combat swatting attacks across the country, the FBI announced in June the creation of a new national internet database that will allow hundreds of police departments and law enforcement organisations to share information about swatting instances.
According to The Associated Press, states such as Ohio and Virginia have recently strengthened their anti-swatting legislation. Ohio made swatting a felony this year, and Virginia increased the maximum term for swatting to 12 months in jail. Clint Dixon, a Georgia state senator, said in a statement that he plans to file legislation in 2024 to impose stronger punishments for false reporting and misuse of police forces.
"This issue goes beyond politics — it's about public safety and preserving the integrity of our institutions," Dixon stated. "We will not stand for these threats of violence and intimidation. Those involved in swatting must be held accountable under the full extent of the law.”
