Chief Tom Manger of the U.S. Capitol Police reported an alarming rise in “swatting” incidents targeting members of Congress. He disclosed that over 50 congressional members were subjected to these attacks within the past month, triggering around 700 investigations. Manger revealed the concerning incidents during a Senate hearing on Wednesday.
“Just in the last month, we’ve had over 50 members of Congress swatted, so we’ve got to look at what we can do to enhance people’s security not only when they’re here on campus but when they’re off-campus and in their home districts,” Manger told members of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee.
Swatting involves the false reporting of emergencies to provoke a heavy police response to someone’s home, often involving Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams. This practice can lead to dangerous situations, including potential shootings, as law enforcement responds to perceived threats.
The United States Congress consists of 100 Senate and 435 House seats. In recent years, there has been an increase in security threats against legislators, leading some members, especially those less senior, to employ private security when in public settings.
Chief Manger highlighted that the U.S. Capitol Police’s resources are stretched thin, with only 20 agents available to address and manage these swatting incidents and other threats. This limited staffing poses significant challenges in effectively safeguarding members of Congress amidst the uptick in swatting cases.
The National Pulse reported earlier on Thursday that an innocent woman in Georgia was killed after colliding with a bomb squad vehicle that was responding to a hoax pipe bomb threat targeting Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). In addition to threats against Members of Congress, nearly a dozen individuals nominated for Cabinet positions by President-elect Donald J. Trump were the targets of bomb hoaxes and swatting incidents last month.
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