Rep. Tom Emmer says home was ‘swatted’
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) said his home was “swatted” Saturday evening, with police responding after a fake 911 call.
“Tonight my family and I were the target of a ‘swatting’ incident involving a 911 prank call that wrongly diverted a police presence to my home,” he said on X, formerly Twitter. “Sadly, this illegal and dangerous scheme is being used nationwide to target elected officials.”
Numerous members of Congress have been targeted by the fake calls in recent weeks. Swatting consists of making fake threats of violence to police to invoke a threatening response that could put the victim at risk.
Other recent victims include presidential candidate Nikki Haley, who said Saturday her home was targeted by a hoax call last month. Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Brandon Williams (R-N.Y.) are also among the victims.
None of the swatting incidents has resulted in any injury.
Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) unveiled a bill earlier this month aimed at increasing the penalties for swatting incidents. Scott was a swatting victim last month.
Scott said the bill would ensure the “cowards” behind these swatting calls “face serious consequences.”
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