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Swatting of American politicians (2023–2024)

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In December 2023, there was widespread swatting of prominent figures in American politics, as well as bomb scares and other violent threats made against government buildings.[1][2] The series of swattings extended into January 2024.[3] In August 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted two foreign nationals located abroad on "one count of conspiracy, 29 counts of threats and false information regarding explosives, and four counts of transmitting threats in interstate and foreign commerce."[4]

Swatting of American politicians
(2023–2024)
DateDecember 25, 2023 – January 11, 2024
(2 weeks and 3 days)
Location
United States
GoalsUnknown, possibly to intimidate political figures
MethodsSwatting, doxing, bomb threats, and other forms of violent incidents
StatusEnded
  • Investigations ongoing
  • 2 individuals charged

Background

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Swatting is a criminal harassment tactic that involves false reporting in order to generate a police response to another person's address. 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

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On December 25 (Christmas Day), 2023, the following were swatted: Tommy Tuberville, a Republican senator from Alabama;[6] Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican representative from Georgia;[7][8] Brandon Williams, a Republican representative from New York state;[9][8] Jack Smith, the independent special counsel overseeing the prosecution of Donald Trump in two federal cases;[10] and Michelle Wu, the Democratic mayor of Boston, Massachusetts.[11]

On December 26 in Ohio, the following were swatted: attorney general Dave Yost, state representative Kevin Miller, state senator Andrew Brenner, and former state representative Rick Carfagna.[12] Florida senator Rick Scott was swatted on December 27.[13][8][14]

On December 29, the following were swatted: Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (the day after she removed Trump from the state's ballots due to his involvement in the January 6 United States Capitol attack);[15] George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley, who defended former President Donald Trump during his two impeachment trials;[16][17] and John Paul Mac Isaac, the computer repairman at the center of the Hunter Biden laptop controversy.[18]

On December 30, the following were swatted: California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis,[19] and political philanthropist George Soros at his Southampton, New York home.[20]

On December 30, Republican presidential candidate and former United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley was swatted.[21] Haley was subsequently swatted again two days later, on January 1, 2024.[22]

On January 1, 2024 (New Year's Day), Texas attorney general Ken Paxton and his wife, majority leader of the Texas senate Angela Paxton, were swatted when they were not at home.[23][24] They also allege their home address had been doxed.[23]

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.[25]

Judges

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On January 7, 2024, Tanya Chutkan, the federal judge overseeing the criminal case against Donald Trump for obstructing the 2020 election, was swatted.[26]

On January 11, 2024, Arthur Engoron, the state judge overseeing the New York civil fraud trial against the Trump Organization, was swatted.[27] Engoron was also the target of a white powder sent to his office on February 28, 2024.[28][29][30][31][32][33]

Charges

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In August 2024, charges were filed in federal court against two individuals residing in Serbia and Romania respectively.[4] Although the U.S. Department of Justice did not identify the victims, the Washington Post matched the dates against known swatting incidents.[34]

References

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  1. ^ Paybarah, Azi (December 29, 2023). "Marjorie Taylor Greene isn't the only politician to be a swatting target". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on December 29, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  2. ^ Corbett, Jessica (December 31, 2023). "Threats Rise as Courts Decide Trump's 2024 Ballot in Maine, Colorado". Truthout. Archived from the original on December 31, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  3. ^ Morris, Kyle (January 2, 2024). "Texas AG Ken Paxton, wife targeted by home 'swatting' on New Year's Day". Fox News. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Two Foreign Nationals Charged in Swatting Conspiracy Targeting Lawmakers, Private Victims, Houses of Worship, and Businesses". U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia (Press release). United States Department of Justice. August 28, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  5. ^ Lee, Dave (January 4, 2024). "US Must Stop 'Swatting' From Becoming an Election Weapon". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on January 4, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  6. ^ Helene Hall, Mary (December 30, 2023). "Tommy Tuberville reportedly targeted in swatting call at Auburn home". AL.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  7. ^ Stanton, Andrew (December 28, 2023). "Republicans want to change the law to protect their families". Newsweek. Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c Keene, Houston (December 29, 2023). "What is 'swatting,' the 'criminal harassment' hoax that's hit 3 GOP lawmakers since Christmas?". Fox News. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  9. ^ O'Driscoll, Sean (December 27, 2023). "Christmas Day "swatting" incidents target politicians". Newsweek. Archived from the original on December 31, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  10. ^ Kosnar, Michael; Richards, Zoë (January 9, 2024). "Special counsel Jack Smith was targeted by attempted swatting on Christmas Day". NBC News. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  11. ^ McColgan, Flint (December 26, 2023). "Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's home 'swatted' on Christmas Day". Boston Herald. Archived from the original on December 31, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  12. ^ Gallion, Bailey (December 27, 2023). "Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, state lawmakers victims of 'swatting' pranks". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. 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. ^ Matza, Max (December 29, 2023). "US lawmakers targeted by swatting hoaxes in multiple states". BBC News. Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  15. ^ Thiessen, Mark (December 31, 2023). "Maine's secretary of state targeted in swatting call after removing Trump from ballot". PBS NewsHour. Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 9, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  16. ^ Suter, Tara (December 29, 2023). "Turley reportedly latest target of swatting spree". The Hill. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  17. ^ Picket, Kerry (December 30, 2023). "Swatting hits law professor Jonathan Turley". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  18. ^ Arias, Pilar (December 31, 2023). "Hunter Biden laptop repairman John Paul Mac Isaac's home 'swatted'". Fox News. Archived from the original on December 31, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  19. ^ Cadelago, Christopher (January 4, 2024). "California lieutenant governor 'swatted' after push to boot Trump from ballot". Politico. Archived from the original on January 5, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  20. ^ Wehner, Greg (January 1, 2024). "Soros' Southampton, NY, estate latest to fall victim to fake 911 'swatting' call". Fox News. Archived from the original on January 2, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  21. ^ Aratani, Lauren (January 7, 2024). "Nikki Haley was swatted in December, records review shows". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  22. ^ Salam, Erum (January 29, 2024). "Nikki Haley was swatted twice within days amid 'spike' in threats to officials". The Guardian. Archived from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  23. ^ a b 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. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  24. ^ 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. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  25. ^ Prater, Nia (January 3, 2024). "State Capitols Around U.S. Evacuated After Hoax Bomb Threats". New York. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  26. ^ Lybrand, Holmes; Lotz, Avery (January 8, 2024). "Federal judge overseeing election case against Trump was victim of swatting incident". CNN. Archived from the original on January 9, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  27. ^ Bromwich, Jonah E. (January 11, 2024). "Judge in Trump's Civil Fraud Trial is Swatted at His Home". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  28. ^ Fahy, Claire (February 28, 2024). "Suspicious Powder Sent to Offices of Trump Judge and Attorney General". The New York Times. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  29. ^ Sisak, Michael R. (February 28, 2024). "White powder sent to judge in Donald Trump's civil fraud case, adding to wave of security scares". Associated Press. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  30. ^ Lakhani, Nina (February 28, 2024). "Judge in Trump civil fraud trial was sent envelope with white powder". The Guardian. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  31. ^ Katersky, Aaron (February 28, 2024). "Arthur Engoron, judge in Trump civil fraud case, received envelope with powder, police respond to courthouse". ABC News. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  32. ^ Snodgrass, Erin; Italiano, Laura; Shamsian, Jacob (February 28, 2024). "Trump trial judge staff opens an envelope with a powdery substance after $454 million verdict". Business Insider. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  33. ^ Buckler, Liam (February 29, 2024). "Trump fraud judge sent 'white powder' in envelope days after Donald Jr targeted". Daily Mirror. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  34. ^ Jackman, Tom (August 28, 2024). "Probe of high-profile 'swatting' incidents leads to men in Serbia, Romania". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
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