DHS Sec Noem Promises Action Against Swatters

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has promised that DHS will be taking action against those who instigate false SWAT attacks on conservatives.

Posting to her X (formerly Twitter) account, Secretary Noem said:

“Under President Trump’s leadership, we will not sit idly by as conservative new media and their families are being targeted by false swatting. 

@DHSgov has the ability to trace phone numbers and track location information. We will use it to hunt these cowards down. 

This is an attack on our law enforcement and innocent families and we will prosecute it as such.”

Swatting is defined by DHS as “making malicious hoax calls to emergency services to falsely report an ongoing emergency such as a violent crime or explosive device at a certain location.” The intent of the calls are to provoke a large-scale response from law enforcement. It takes its name from the Special Weapons And Tactics teams that often take part in such responses.

Swatting usually involves significant threats such as bombs or mass shooters, to increase the level of response. It is a technique of harassment both to the target of the swatting and to the law enforcement officers involved. As with any emotionally-charged law enforcement scenario, the possibility of mistakes always exists. This has caused these attacks to be compared to terrorism or even attempted murder.

Alabama’s own Larry Taunton was recently the victim of a swatting attack. As first reported in ALPolitics.com, Talladega County law enforcement officers responded to a mass shooter call at Taunton’s home early Monday morning. When asked about the incident, Taunton said:

"I was just SWATed. Someone made a call to police claiming to be hiding in my home as I was shooting people. Five men, all armed with AR15s, came to my home. I came out with a weapon of my own. I’m grateful for their professionalism & restraint. This might’ve been a bloodbath."

Fortunately, the situation was resolved peacefully, as Taunton described on his podcast Tuesday.

There has been a significant increase in swatting attacks against conservative new media figures in the past few weeks. Radio Host Joe Pagliarulo (Joe Pags), influencer Gunther Eagleman, InfoWar’s Chase Geiser, reporter Nick Sortor and influencer Catturd have all reported recent swatting events against themselves or their families.

FBI Director Kash Patel has said that “The FBI is aware of this dangerous trend, and my team and I are already taking action to investigate and hold those responsible accountable.”

In January, Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville joined Senators Rick Scott (R-FL) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) to introduce the Preserving Safe Communities by Ending Swatting Act. The Act would impose severe penalties, including up to 20 years in prison if someone is injured in a swatting attack. Senator Tuberville said at the bill’s announcement that:

“Swatting is a serious problem that must be addressed. My home was swatted twice around Christmas last year in a dangerous attempt to intimidate my family and me. Our brave men and women in blue shouldn’t have to use valuable time and resources answering hoax calls when they could be protecting communities and getting criminals off the street. I’m proud to join Senator Scott in standing up to these criminal hoaxers, making our communities safer, and keeping our law enforcement officers out of harmful situations.” 

Representative David Kustoff (R-TN) is leading the legislation in the House of Representatives. Joining Rep. Kustoff in cosponsoring are Representatives Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Mike Ezell (R-MS), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Laurel Lee (R-FL), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), and John Rutherford (R-FL).

The Preserving Safe Communities by Ending Swatting Act was endorsed by the National Association of Police Organizations, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the National Sheriffs’ Association. It is currently before the Senate Judiciary Committee.