Several of United States President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees were recently targeted by bomb threats and swatting incidents, raising serious concerns about the safety of public officials and their families.

The incidents, reported on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, spurred swift responses from law enforcement and brought back into the spotlight, the dangerous practice of ‘swatting’.

What is ‘swatting’?

Swatting is “practice” that manipulates emergency services into deploying armed response teams to a false location and has emerged as a tool of political harassment. The FBI and other agencies are investigating these incidents, which come against a backdrop of escalating violence and threats toward public figures.

Several prominent figures in Trump’s incoming administration have publicly acknowledged being targeted. Elise Stefanik, a Republican representative and Trump’s nominee for US ambassador to the United Nations, revealed that she, her husband, and their three-year-old son were traveling from Washington, DC, to their home in New York when they were informed of a bomb threat.

Lee Zeldin, Trump’s pick to head the Environmental Protection Agency, faced a similar ordeal. “A pipe bomb threat targeting me and my family at our home today was sent in with a pro-Palestinian themed message,” Zeldin said in a statement.

He added that his family was not home at the time and were safe, but the incident underscored the personal toll such threats take.

Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee for defence secretary, experienced an alarming swatting incident. “This morning, a police officer arrived at our home — where our seven children were still sleeping. The officer notified my wife and me that they had received a credible pipe bomb threat targeting me and my family. We are all safe, and the threat has been cleared,” Hegseth wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Other targets included a family member of former Congressman Matt Gaetz, who had withdrawn his nomination for attorney general days earlier amid Senate opposition.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office in Florida confirmed a bomb threat but stated, “The mailbox was cleared, and no devices were located. The immediate area was also searched with negative results.”

Why is swatting a dangerous practice?

Swatting, defined by the FBI as the false reporting of a serious crime to elicit a large-scale armed response, has been on the agency’s radar since at least 2008. The tactic, often enabled by caller ID spoofing and other technology, is used as both a prank and a form of targeted harassment.

The phenomenon has grown significantly in recent years, with more than 500 incidents reported between May 2023 and January 2024, according to CNN. Victims have ranged from political figures to celebrities and everyday individuals.

In one notable case, gamer Tyler Barriss was sentenced to 20 years in prison for a 2017 swatting incident in Kansas that resulted in the death of Andrew Finch, an uninvolved third party.

In another high-profile case, a Coventry, UK, gamer named Robert Walker-McDaid became the first British citizen convicted for swatting after falsely reporting a hostage situation in Maryland. His hoax led to life-changing injuries for his victim, Tyran Dobbs, who required reconstructive surgery after being shot by police.

The cost of a single swatting incident can exceed $100,000, as seen in a 2014 hoax in Long Beach, California, which mobilised more than 60 heavily armed officers and hostage negotiators.

How has swatting been used a a tool for political harassment?

The use of swatting in politically motivated attacks has surged. Victims include Judge Arthur Engoron, who presided over Trump’s financial fraud case; Special Counsel Jack Smith; and Judge Tanya Chutkan, overseeing Trump’s DC criminal trial.

Election officials have also been targeted, including Gabriel Sterling, a Republican from Georgia who refuted Trump’s claims of election fraud.

Notably, swatting has been weaponised against both political allies and opponents. In December 2023, Nikki Haley, a Republican presidential hopeful, was targeted during her campaign. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a staunch Trump ally, has endured multiple swatting attempts, including a false report of a murder-suicide at her home on Christmas Day last year.

The attacks are not limited to individuals. Federal cybersecurity officials warned of a wave of swatting incidents targeting election workers and polling places during the 2024 election cycle.

A joint statement from the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) noted that swatting is used to disrupt critical infrastructure, intimidate individuals, and induce fear.

Swatting has had tragic consequences over the years. In 2013, FBI Assistant Special Agent Kevin Kolbye warned, “It’s only a matter of time before somebody gets seriously injured as a result of one of these incidents.” His prediction became reality in numerous cases.

Law enforcement has since sought to deter swatting through stricter penalties. Ohio recently classified swatting as a felony, while Virginia introduced penalties of up to 12 months in jail. The FBI launched a Virtual Command Center in 2023 to coordinate responses to swatting incidents, though critics argue that more aggressive enforcement is needed.

Is Trump being targeted?

These recent incidents are part of a broader pattern of threats against Trump and his associates. In July, Trump survived an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania. In September, a man armed with a rifle was charged with attempting to kill Trump near one of his Florida golf courses.

Despite the heightened risks, the White House underlined the importance of condemning political violence. “The president and the administration unequivocally condemn threats of political violence,” a spokesperson for US President Joe Biden stated.

The FBI has also urged vigilance. “We take all potential threats seriously and encourage members of the public to immediately report anything suspicious to law enforcement,” an FBI representative said.

Source: firstpost