House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) took to social media on Saturday night, sharing that his home was “swatted” after police received 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,” Emmer said on X. “Sadly, this illegal and dangerous scheme is being used nationwide to target elected officials.”
Swatting is a recent trend where fake threats of violence are made to the police to invoke a threatening response, which could cause danger for the victims. Several streamers on the platform Twitch have famously been swatted while live streaming after viewers decided to make prank calls on them.
Emmer isn’t the first member of Congress to be a target of fake calls in recent weeks, but he is the latest.
“Thankfully, no one was home or injured. I condemn this illegal abuse of police resources,” Emmer wrote. “I want to thank the Wright County Sheriff’s Office for their professionalism and support.”
Among others to fall victim to “swatting” include Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Brandon Williams (R-N.Y.), who were both swatted in recent weeks.
On Saturday, Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley also said her home was the target of a hoax call last month.
None of the prank calls have resulted in any injury of those being swatted. However, several politicians are now looking to increase penalties for swatting incidents.
Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL) and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) unveiled a bill earlier this month that would do just that. Scott began scripting the legislation after he was a victim of swatting.
The Senator said the bill would ensure that the “cowards” making the swatting calls will “face serious consequences.”