Three Democratic lawmakers from Connecticut reported bomb threats on Thursday, following reports of threats and “swatting” targeting key senior staff picks of President-elect Donald Trump. Senators Chris Murphy, Rep. John Larson, and Rep. Jim Himes, all Democrats, issued statements on Thursday that their homes were subject to bomb threats. Murphy’s office indicated that the threats seemed to be part of a coordinated effort involving multiple members of Congress and public figures.
The Trump transition spokeswoman, Karoline Leavitt, released a statement on Wednesday revealing that several of Trump’s planned nominees had also been targeted with swatting or bomb threats. Representatives Elise Stefanik and Lee Zeldin, chosen to be U.N. ambassador and EPA administrator, respectively, both confirmed that they were targeted. Additionally, the NYPD responded to a threat at the home of Howard Lutnick, tapped to be Commerce Secretary. Susie Wiles, Trump’s incoming chief of staff, and Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general chosen to be the next U.S. attorney general, were also targeted in this wave of attacks. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, Trump’s initial pick for Attorney General who later withdrew his name from consideration, also reported being targeted.
The term “swatting” refers to the act of falsely calling emergency services to send armed police officers to a specific address or target in a threatening manner. Bomb threats can be a form of swatting, as they mislead authorities into believing a serious threat or crime is occurring, prompting an urgent response from law enforcement. In rare cases, swatting incidents have resulted in fatal outcomes. The Department of Homeland Security warns that this criminal trend, which is often a daily occurrence and may happen in clusters, wastes police and first responder resources and can lead to dangerous altercations between law enforcement officers. For example, Mark Herring of Tennessee suffered a fatal heart attack in 2021 after being targeted, while a Kansas man was shot dead by police in 2017 in response to a swatting incident at his home.
Despite the potential for felony charges and lengthy prison sentences, suspects in swatting cases are often difficult to track down. Offenders frequently use tactics like caller ID spoofing, social engineering, voice masking technology, and even teletypewriter (TTY) technology to disguise their identity or impersonate a victim.
Caroline Linton, an associate managing editor on the political team for CBSNews.com, reported on these incidents and highlighted the complexities and dangers associated with swatting. She has previously written for The Daily Beast, Newsweek, and amNewYork.
In conclusion, the recent wave of bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting Democratic lawmakers and Trump’s senior staff picks is a troubling trend that highlights the potential dangers of false emergency calls. Law enforcement agencies must remain vigilant in investigating these threats and holding perpetrators accountable to prevent further harm and ensure the safety and security of public officials and individuals targeted by swatting attacks.
