Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has been the subject of numerous swatting attempts at her residence in Georgia, the latest on Christmas.
Swatting is the act of making a false emergency call to draw armed officers or SWAT teams to someone’s home.
“I was just swatted. This is like the 8th time. On Christmas with my family here. My local police are the GREATEST and shouldn’t have to deal with this,” Greene wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The Christmas Morning Swatting Attempt
On Christmas morning, a man in New York called the Georgia suicide hotline, claiming that he had shot his girlfriend at Greene’s home and intended to commit suicide next.
The suicide hotline responders recognized Greene’s address and swiftly transferred the call to the police.
However, the Rome Police Department in Georgia quickly verified that the call was a hoax and did not send officers to Greene’s residence. This incident marked the eighth swatting attempt targeting Greene.
Greene expressed her frustration on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating, “I was just swatted. This is like the 8th time. On Christmas with my family here. My local police are the GREATEST and shouldn’t have to deal with this.”
Response by Law Enforcement
The Rome Police Department, which serves the cities of Rome, Dalton, and Calhoun in northwest Georgia, has been actively involved in addressing these swatting attempts. They have developed a close working relationship with Greene’s private security detail to better assess the threat level of such calls.
In previous incidents, false reports of dead bodies and shootings outside Greene’s residence had prompted police responses. However, with the assistance of her security detail, the department now has a more efficient approach in evaluating the legitimacy of these emergencies.
Department spokesperson Kelly Madden highlighted their response to the recent swatting attempt, stating, “We determined before our personnel could get to her location that there was no emergency and there was no reason to respond. Her security detail had it all under control, and there actually was nothing going on.”
Previous Swatting Attempts
The recent swatting attempts on Christmas morning were not isolated incidents. Greene has been targeted multiple times in the past with similar false emergency calls. Some of these calls claimed the discovery of dead bodies in different areas of her home, located about 70 miles northwest of Atlanta. Last year, police also responded to false reports of shootings outside her residence.
Such repeated incidents have not only caused significant distress to Greene and her family but have also strained law enforcement resources. Each swatting attempt requires a swift response from the police, diverting their attention from genuine emergencies. This has prompted law enforcement agencies to collaborate closely with Greene’s security detail to minimize risks and improve their assessment of the legitimacy of these calls.
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Identifying the Culprits
In the wake of the Christmas morning swatting attempt, the Rome Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division has been actively working to identify the caller and build a case against them. Investigations of this nature require meticulous examination of phone records, cross-referencing with relevant databases, and coordination with law enforcement agencies in other jurisdictions.
Efforts to track down the individuals responsible for swatting attempts can be challenging, as they often utilize various technologies to conceal their identities. However, with advancements in forensic techniques and increasing collaboration between law enforcement agencies, there is hope for successful identification and prosecution of the perpetrators.
Consequences and Legal Actions
Swatting is a serious crime that can result in severe consequences for the perpetrators. Making false emergency calls not only wastes valuable police resources but also puts innocent lives at risk. When a SWAT team is deployed, there is a high potential for escalation and unintended harm.
In August of the previous year, a New York man was sentenced to three months in prison for making threatening phone calls to Greene’s Washington, D.C., office. This case demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement agencies to pursue legal action against individuals responsible for such crimes.
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Swatting Attempts on Other Politicians
Marjorie Taylor Greene is not the only politician to have been targeted by swatting attempts. Republican Representative Brandon Williams also experienced a swatting attempt on Christmas Day. The Cayuga County Sheriff’s office in central New York received a false report of a shooting at Williams’ home, prompting officers to respond and ensure there was no present danger. Williams expressed his gratitude to the deputies and troopers who contacted him before arriving, noting that they left with homemade cookies and spiced nuts.
These incidents highlight the broader issue of swatting as a means to harass and intimidate public figures. It is crucial for law enforcement agencies to remain vigilant and adopt proactive measures to prevent such false emergency calls.
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