Earlier this month, a tragic accident took place in Rome, Georgia, resulting in the death of a woman. The fatal incident occurred when her car collided with a police officer’s vehicle. The officer was responding to a fabricated bomb scare at the residence of Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene. This incident marks the latest in a series of threats directed at her and other Congressional members, causing law enforcement to respond.
U.S. Capitol Police Chief, Thomas Manger, expressed his concern about this escalating trend to CBS News. He highlighted that these public figures and their families are increasingly becoming the targets of threats in their own homes.
During a Senate hearing on December 11, Chief Manger testified about over 50 “swatting” attacks on Congressional members over the past month. These attacks involve false reports of bombs or mass shootings at a public official’s home, designed to provoke a SWAT team’s response. Such deceitful tactics can potentially lead to tragic outcomes. Law enforcement officers rushing to these scenes can inadvertently cause harm or even death to innocent individuals, creating chaotic and disastrous situations.
Manger revealed that the Capitol Police are often dealing with several swatting cases daily. He emphasized that these incidents are happening nationwide and have undoubtedly caught their attention.
In the wake of a year marked by political unrest, the election in November has not alleviated tensions. Several House members have reported being threatened in recent weeks. Even President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team and Cabinet choices have been the recipients of bomb threats and swatting calls.
In a separate incident, on December 10, a man from Illinois was taken into custody by Capitol Police for allegedly assaulting Republican Representative Nancy Mace on Capitol Hill.
Moreover, on November 8, Democratic Representative Jared Moskowitz of Florida publicly revealed that he had been alerted by authorities about a potential threat against his life.
Likewise, Democratic Representative Wiley Nickel of California has also received a surge of death threats after his recent editorial in the Washington Post proposing strategies to counter President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda.
In response to the increasing threats, Capitol Police are intensifying their efforts to protect elected officials. They are deploying more officers in their home communities and airports and assisting them in enhancing security measures in their homes and local offices.
