Throughout the country, conservative commentators and online influencers are facing a surge in a terrifying, dangerous, and highly illegal intimidation tactic: swatting.
Swatting refers to when someone makes a false emergency call to law enforcement, typically claiming a violent crime is in progress, to provoke a heavy police response—often a SWAT team—at an unsuspecting victim’s location. This dangerous hoax can lead to property damage, psychological trauma, and even injury or death.
Last week, conservative commentator Larry Taunton became the latest victim of the swatting epidemic. On a false tip, the sheriff’s office in rural Talladega County descended on Taunton’s house in full tactical gear, expecting to find three armed men “shooting people,” as a caller had alleged. Mercifully, Taunton and his wife were able to signal there was no threat before actual violence ensued.
In the last month, at least eight prominent conservative figures have been swatted. On March 13, conservative podcaster Nick Sortor’s father and sister were swatted. The caller alleged that Sortor’s father was murdering the family, which led to an aggressive police response.
Conservative radio host Joe Pagliarulo was also swatted that evening. He was awake at 5 a.m. when his security system notified him someone was outside his home. Cameras showed a shadowy figure carrying an AR-15. Thankfully, Pagliarulo had the presence of mind to call 911 and confirm that it was the police attempting to conduct a raid.
Pagliarulo was able to get the officer to stand down and confirm the call about violence in his home was false. But the intent of the swatting call was clear – to get Pagliarulo to grab his gun and go outside to confront the threat, where he likely would have been shot and killed by officers acting on a false report.
Infowars host Chase Geiser, meanwhile, had his home swatted twice within 12 hours. Similarly, Catturd, the amusing X handle for a prominent Trump supporter, was also swatted by police on March 14. This was the fourth time in the last several years that his home had been raided.
Mercifully, each incident was resolved without violence. However, this has tragically not always been the case.
In 2017 in Wichita, Kansas, for instance, police shot and killed 28-year-old Andrew Finch while responding to a swatting call. The dispute stemmed from a video game argument in which rival gamers placed the anonymous call, alleging that Finch was participating in a deadly hostage situation.
When Finch opened his door, a police officer shot and killed him under the false impression that Finch was reaching for a weapon. Finch was unarmed at the time. The perpetrator of the hoax was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
In 2020, Mark Herring, a 60-year-old computer programmer and grandfather of six, was swatted by a 14-year-old who wanted Herring’s Twitter handle, “@Tennessee.” Herring was so overwhelmed by the incident that he suffered a heart attack and died.
Prominent Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has been swatted at least eight times. In the most recent attempt last December, a police officer was involved in a fatal car accident while racing to Greene’s home.
Even if swatting victims can avoid physical violence, they often suffer from PTSD and other traumas. Further, many small towns with limited police forces are forced to allocate most of their departments to execute a SWAT raid. During that time, they cannot respond to other legitimate crimes that may be occurring.
While swatting is not a new phenomenon, the rash of swatting incidents targeting prominent conservative figures is an alarming new development.
FBI Director Kash Patel has stated that he is actively investigating the swatting incidents as domestic terrorism. “This isn’t about politics—weaponizing law enforcement against ANY American is not only morally reprehensible but also endangers lives, including those of our officers,” Patel said in a recent social media post.
These coordinated acts of terrorism against conservative leaders are far from the only dangerous acceleration of politically motivated violence on the left. Throughout the country, Tesla vehicle owners have had their cars vandalized, marked with swastikas, and even set on fire in an apparent protest against Tesla CEO Elon Musk. In some cases, drivers captured on dash cams have been seen deliberately trying to wreck into Teslas on the highway.
Tesla dealerships have also been subjected to arson attacks and, in one instance, even a drive-by shooting. Multiple websites have created databases of every known Tesla owner, apparently inviting violence against them. Anti-Trump activist Rick Wilson posted an article on Wednesday with the incendiary headline, “Kill Tesla, Save the Country.”
Since Donald Trump’s emergence on the political scene a decade ago, the left has insisted that it is Trump and his Republican allies who are “dangerous,” “fascist,” and a “threat to democracy.” But as the swatting epidemic and attacks on Tesla owners have shown, it is increasingly the left, not the right, that has devolved into violence to intimidate and even attempt to injure or kill their political opponents.
Andrew Shirley is a veteran speechwriter and AMAC Newsline columnist. His commentary can be found on X at @AA_Shirley.
This is occurring cause the Democratic Party is waging war against the American People! The Democratic Party is no longer Americans, the Democratic Party is made up of groups of Socialists, Marxist, Communists, Muslims/Hamas, etc! They must be stopped now before they continue to get any stronger!
More accurately, this is Democrat Terrorism. Antifa, BLM, and other hate groups attacking America and traditional values are are all Democrats.
Amazing and terrifying those leftist radicals as well as pranksters are using these phone tactics for their amusement and putting innocent civilians at great risk. Law enforcement officials have to take each threat as real and treat the incident as such. The left and MSM are waiting for an incident that may take a life so they can jump all over it and blame the Trump administration.
I don’t recall anyone right of center weaponizing law enforcement to target their enemies out of spite. But it’s the left that created red flag laws where anyone can report anyone simply because they can and without immediate proof. Law enforcement must always respond and judges have nothing to lose by granting them a warrant, just incase. Some states had to create law that filing a false report is also a crime, but the ball is already in motion and we never seem to hear if the perpetrator was held accountable or even captured. False reporting must carry strict consequences or unnecessary tragedies will be frequent.
What else would you expect from the progressive/socialists? If there was any doubt in your mind about the caliber of the people belonging to this group. this should erase any of that doubt.
Hopefully as Kash Patel has said, investigate, charge, and sentence perps as terrorists and then send them to Gitmo. No stateside imprisonment with visitation.
First, I must say (again) the name “Democrat” must be Changed! They are Not Democratic and they in no way operate in a group that practices Democracy. Chaos party might be good.
Also, this is by-the-book terrorism, and I firmly support the work of FBI Director Kashmir Patel to investigate these “swatting instances” as Domestic Terrorism; with comparable punishment.
If it isn’t already, “Swatting” should be made a FEDERAL crime with an appropriate sentence of 5 years in prison. These mentally- and morally-sick people need to be apprehended and face SERIOUS time in jail before they end of causing the death of first responders or homeowners!
What is being done to moderate response, to seek confirmation that it is a false call, too arresting and charging individuals who call? I understand that the response is as it is, but time to seek a variation based on good minds working on solutions.
Left should use swastika as their symbol, they sure are acting like brown shirts.
“it is increasingly the left, not the right, that has devolved into violence”
It IS and has always been, the left that has done these violent despicable actions! ALWAYS!
Most left wingers that I come in contact with are totally in denial or oblivious to this criminal act. They claim it is just Fox News ginning up things.
The progressive woke leftists should all be considered as DOMESTIC TERRORISTS.
I’m only guessing, that even if the DOJ and FBI have instituted national SWAT policy and procedure coupled with ROE’S, each local law enforcement group will have their own training, plus the wide variance of experienced and trained officers who answer these calls. Whether one has military and/or civilian experience, what I’ve read in this article or in other publications nationally, the immediacy to confront and pull the trigger is a problem that needs to be solved now, plus as noted find the perprs and get DAs and states to properly take any and all legal actions to punish them.
The left has gone way overboard now. They need to be punished for these, with long long prison sentences in places like Stateville Correction Center in IL. They will find out it is not as much fun as it might seem.
These who are submitting this 911 Information should personally identify through a verification process (having their personal information kept confidentially sealed), unless, it be discovered these individuals lied. Then you prosecute the Swatter. A person who is legitimately concerned will have no problem giving up personal information in hopes a person in need can quickly receive assistance.
I have called in and gave up personal information in an effort to send help. No problem if you’re legit!
No Republican, no MAGA supporter ever attacked anyone when Biden let in 20 million illegals. Or mandated we take the COVID vaccine or buy electric vehicles or all electric appliances. Mutilated our children or allowed biological males in women’s sport. When pronouns were made mandatory if you didn’t comply you could get a fine or a fine and prison time. When BLM burned down the cities and many police officers and civilians were killed, Kamala Harris bailed them out and called them patriots. But Swatting conservatives. Calling the president of these United States Hitler is perfectly okay. President Trump and his cabinet trying to save America from going under is frowned upon. The war in the Ukraine and the Middle East has to go on. They want to break America. And Trump is standing in the way. They have for years set up this hatred that swatting and destroying Teslas and college campuses all in the name of democracy is the proper way to go. Soros and other billionaires are paying all these professional protesters. November 5-2024 the people said no. Your platform we don’t accept any longer we want what Trump proposes. Keeping our constitutional republic is like keeping free speech. We have to fight every day, not one another, but in the courts and halls of congress, in state legislatures and city halls, to keep it.
This is not Swatting this is Terroism
This “swatting” activity by the DemoKKKRAT Left is DOMESTIC Terrorism and should be treated as such. Prison sentences for as many of these punks that the FBI can catch will put a stop to this nonsense. ALL Leftist ‘activities” like these should ALL be punished to the fullest extent of the law.
“The perpetrator of the hoax was sentenced to 20 years in prison.”
Seriously? This sounds like an open and shut case of FIRST DEGREE MURDER!. The perp should get the death penalty.
I thought false police reports were against the law in every state?!
Oh, more divisive actions from the party of Tolerance and inclusion.
Well, you degenerate demonrats must be mighty proud of yourselves, getting innocent people killed because of your hate filled, brain dead minds.
Congratulations, you have sunk to the depths of Hell with your thinking, actions and the impression you are making on the rest of the world.
I have total faith that when the day comes you meet your Maker, you will pay for all the trouble and deaths and devastation you have caused with your hatred of the man who is cleaning up your messes and making this country great again after the chaotic sewer you you made of it.
OPEN SEASON ON THE A-HOLES SHOULD STOP IT
No, I did not enjoy the article. It disturbs me immensely. People who commit these crimes should face 20 years with no parole or life imprisonment if someone dies.
Our country has allowed the far-left to commit many crimes and much violence for the last 8 to 10 years with very little punishment being administered. Then there is the whole “Defund the police” thing where large blue cities actually fired thousands of police officers and they also asked for no bail and let the accused walk out a free person. No wonder the violence continues among these people! And now we see so many left-wingers with TDS spewing hate and threats against all Republicans and in particular Trump and Musk followers. Until our government wakes up and starts arresting these horrible people, it will not stop. Yes, the feds are at least TRYING to deport the criminal illegals and the far-left is trying to stop that. We once lived in a country free from this kind of violence forced upon innocent people simply doing their jobs but no longer. The current far-left Democrats and stark-raving mad and must be stopped….NOW!!!
This is exactly what the Second Amendment is for. Anyone who’s being threatened with harm and they have no idea of how it will enlarge, has the right to use lethal force. The left demorats are unhinged, they lost, they will no doubt do anything to hurt those they blame. If the left wants a war give it to them. This uptick war they’re threatening gun owners with…more and more “laws and regulations” as the “criminal justice system is weakened almost by the day. They’ve gotten more unhinged the last few years. Perhaps boldened by what happened at Waco, Texas in ’94 under then “president” William Jefferson Clinton under who’s auspices with his jack booted buddy Janet Reno, slaughtered about 80 plus American citizens plus small children, in the ugliest, most vile action taken under a sitting president no doubt since the “Civil” war. Supposedly because they had “thousands of guns and millions of rounds of ammo”…yet not a peep after 51 days of carnage. “all gone, nothing to see here.” Been reminding folks of this horror as it seems the left has gone so far to the dark side…two attempts on President Trump’s life…acting like rabid monkey’s let out of their cages and burning Tesla’s, threatening our President, of course the “left media” is lying through their yellowed teeth on a daily basis… I watched this horror in absolute unbelief the entire 51 days. It literally changed my life forever.
Am I “out there”? Or are we perhaps facing an ugly stand off in the near future?
The “democrat disaster” from last Novembers’ elections resulted from their having exhibited their “no-think-spoiled-brat routine” far too many times in recent memory. Now, they have conspicuously raised the stakes with this “swatting” buffoonery. FACT: The worse their conduct becomes, the more political power these “democrats” will relinquish at the polling places. Of course, many NON-DEMOCRAT voters will find these outcomes quite agreeable. I just KNOW the “democrats” will trust MY appraisal of their conduct, because…. “I was raised in a middle-class family”!!
The Dems are mad they lost the race they will get back at who ever they have to, they never wanted President Trump to win. I hope the president keeps up what he is doing with Doge and Elon Musk bring out all the corruption they are doing so they never win a race they do not deserve to win with lies and violence. We have good people in Team Trumps cabinet and the Dems up there hate it they just base there party on Hate it will never work again.
Will the socialist leftist terrorist frenzy of hurt, hate, true evil and corruption ever end?? I think not. As long as the radical left radicals send out lies and anti-American stories to the swamp dwellers. These coordinated acts of terrorism against conservative leaders are far from the only dangerous acceleration of politically motivated violence on the left. Throughout the country, Tesla vehicle owners have had their cars vandalized, marked with swastikas, and even set on fire. The prison in El Salvador has room for all of them, AND the instigators who are in our government.
Political swatting should be federally legislated as domestic terrorism with related severe penalties.
The Democrat Party should be declared a terrorist organization and hunted down as a terrorist organization for their anti American acts and jailed or?
Rick Wilson needs to be arrested for inciting these riots. Blame it all on him like they did Trump. Catch them all and make examples of them. Bodyslam justice is needed here. Fear is the best motivator. This has to stop. Don’t forget to “shop” for honest conservative judges so they will be punished.
The democrat party hasn’t really changed all that much since the days of the KKK being it’s enforcement wing, has it?
The leftists need to grow up and face up to why they lost the election. They’re making more and more voters turn away from them. Violence solves nothing. It just makes the ones carrying out the paid for orders, happy. I can’t believe how immature and ignorant the left has become. I’m 74 years old and have never seen such disrespect for the office of the Presidency as I have seen in the last 25-30 years. They react like a child who’s toy was taken away and they throw a tantrum.
Must continue, but yet again the left is still going strong! Especially where Maxine is concern! for she fear not of her own action!
The police agencies that are doing this have to be held accountable for their action’s! They have the responsibility to make sure that the threat is real before going and kicking down door’s and shooting innocent victim’s. One of these times they are going to do this to someone who is prepared and it may come out differently.
Dems have gotten away with everything over the last 16 or so years, why wouldn’t they get bolder? Sadly they raise funds for these criminals, bail them out of jail and provide defense attorneys to one and all. They know a majority of the cases will be brought in big blue cities where it is unlikely we will ever see a jury without at least one juror who sides with them or will at least buy their BS, so they walk no matter what they have done.
The FBI and DOJ need to move out of DC and start running these cases in less friendly (to the liberal insanity) jurisdictions!
I blame the police for not verifying there’s an actual life-threatening emergency. Geez, whatever happened to hostage negotiating? No, one bogus & unverified phone call and they’re ready to storm-in, guns at the ready to kill the first thing they see. Pull back on the reigns, guys; Hard!
Vitriol directed towards anything smacking of conservatism has devolved from honest discussion of differences of opinion to murderous attitudes. The old adage that proper discussion shouldn’t involve politics or religion may not be what’s necessary in today’s culture, but surely that discussion should be with honest charity. That being said, those who perpetrated the “swatting” should be held accountable for their actions.
Definitely, these people should be held accountable for the CRIME OF SWATTING INNOCENT PEOPLE!!!! We all have our personal opinions & should never be attacked or harassed when we differ. What those that are destroying personal property, some actions causing financial, or physical,& emotional strain to innocent individuals, they should be held accountable, financially & judicially!!!
Deport those [from other countries] who commit crimes and deport [expel] those who were born and raised in America.
Make this= then see Leftists react then
Find out who’s doing it and return the favor. It’ll stop quick.
Why the hurry to shoot…when they don’t know who they’re shooting? I would say that’s pathetic and weak…it’s either that or they want to help the left and are part of the problem…
Oooh here comes a big tough policeman armed to the gills and wearing bullet proof body armor and he’s so wimpy and gutless he fires at the first thing that moves?
We are becoming a nation of fragile “soy boys” who are jumpy and afraid of their own shadow….even our Police! Where’s the courage?
They need to get some training and grow a pair….wimps!
Increasingly?!? What a joke! It has ALWAYS been the Left that has been violenr and criminal! That was a misleading and damaging way to end this otherwise accurate article!
Forget “punishing”. Give them their own medicine, but go “weapons HOT” with ROI calling for response to simply breathing.
That’s horrible; it really is. It’s a felony, and lots of jail time if convicted.
And, as a liberal, I am NOT opposed to trials, conviction, and jail time for anyone found to be doing it. Even if they’re “one of mine.”
But it’s not just Conservatives who have been “SWATTTED”
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swatting_of_American_politicians_(2023%E2%80%932024)
Oh the irony of Mr. Shirley’s comment that “it is increasingly the left, not the right, that has devolved into violence to intimidate and even attempt to injure or kill their political opponents.” Does the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021 and the refrain “hang Mike Pence” ring a bell?