A series of “swatting” incidents against prominent conservatives has FBI Director Kash Patel sounding the alarm — and promising action.
In a Friday statement on X, Patel said that the FBI’s team was “fully committed to working with local law enforcement” on solving the crimes and punishing those responsible.
The signal that the bureau was entering the fray was welcomed by conservatives on social media, including some that had been targets of the incidents.
“Swatting” is a criminal harassment practice which involves fake reports of emergencies or ongoing criminal activities at someone’s residence to provoke a response from local emergency response teams.
According to The National Desk, several prominent conservatives have reported being the targets of swatting in recent weeks.
“Social media influencer Gunther Eagleman, radio host Joe Pagliarulo, and Infowars’ Chase Geiser each claimed to be among a slew of figures who were victims of false swatting calls this week,” the National Desk reported.
“Also reporting swatting incidents were commentators Shawn Farash, Nick Sortor and parody account Catturd.”
According to Fox News, Sortor said that the swatter in his case called his father, who claimed he was killing the “entire family, requiring them to intervene with deadly force.”