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A series of “swatting” incidents that targeted the homes of public officials on Christmas Day have prompted lawmakers to push for stricter penalties for hoax police calls.
Florida Senator Rick Scott, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost have been among the victims of “swatting” — the act of making false emergency calls to prompt a police response at a certain address.
The latest incidents have intensified calls for increased penalties against swatting, mirroring recent legislative actions in Ohio and Virginia that aim to criminalize the act.
“Swatting constitutes a false police report that can be criminally charged,” said Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University. “Virginia recently passed a new law making swatting specifically a criminal misdemeanor. It can also be charged as a form of criminal threats.”
Similar bills are currently pending in various states and in Congress.
According to officials, the recent wave of swatting incidents involved a man identifying himself as “Jamal,” who made calls in multiple states claiming that he had shot his wife for cheating on him and was holding her boyfriend hostage.
The calls have put public officials and their families at risk and wasted law enforcement resources.
To deter such calls, Ohio lawmakers recently helped pass legislation making swatting a felony in the state.
Georgia Senator Clint Dixon shared his experience of an incident that occurred at his Buford home on Christmas evening: “I was watching a little football, and all of a sudden, I heard her [his wife] start yelling, ‘There’s police running at the door.’””
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has been a repeated target of swatting attempts, faced another incident when a man from New York falsely claimed to have shot his girlfriend at Greene’s home in Rome, Georgia.
Fortunately, police quickly recognized it as a swatting attempt and canceled the response.
In a statement, Senator Rick Scott described how his home in Naples, Florida, was targeted while he and his wife were out at dinner. He condemned the swatting attempt, saying, “These criminals wasted the time and resources of our law enforcement in a sick attempt to terrorize my family.”
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, also a recent target of swatting, said that she and her family have become accustomed to such incidents.
“For better or worse, my family is a bit used to it by now, and we have a good system with the department,” Wu stated.
Swatting incidents have also targeted low-profile public officials such as a Republican congressman from New York, Georgia Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones and a former state senator in Nebraska.
“I will not be intimidated by those attempting to silence me. We will put an end to this madness,” Jones said.
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