Congressional Security Working to Address Surge of Swatting Incidents Among Lawmakers

Congressional security officials are working to address a surge in swatting incidents among House members after multiple lawmakers had law enforcement teams called to their residences in recent months, wasting valuable police time and resources. In a letter sent to the spouses of members of Congress on Jan. 30, House Sergeant at Arms William McFarland noted that there has been an “increased number” of swatting incidents involving lawmakers and their family residences. Swatting involves individuals or groups making hoax calls to law enforcement officials claiming there is some kind of emergency or violent crime taking place in an attempt to make police dispatch a large number of armed police officers, typically tactical units, to a particular address....