Sen. Rick Scott Vows Legislation to Ensure Swatting “Cowards” Face “Real Consequences”

On Wednesday night, the Naples, FL home of Senator Rick Scott was swatted.

Swatting is a crime in which an individual falsely reports a violent crime to the police – like a hostage situation or murder – that would require the response of a SWAT team. The goal is to get the police to send a SWAT team to the target’s home.

After it happened to him, Sen. Scott called the swatting attack a “sick attempt to terrorize my family” on X:

Last night, while at dinner with my wife, cowards “swatted” my home in Naples. These criminals wasted the time & resources of our law enforcement in a sick attempt to terrorize my family.

Ann & I want to thank @NaplesPolice & @CollierSheriff for all they do to keep us safe.

— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) December 28, 2023

Here’s a short clip of the police response to the swatting hoax against Sen. Rick Scott’s family home:

OFFICERS RESPOND TO “SWATTING” CALL AT SENATOR RICK SCOTT’S HOME IN NAPLES | FULL STORY: https://t.co/1GCD6N89av pic.twitter.com/eWh5K3EFMJ

— UC Breaking News | SWFL (@UCBreakingNews) December 28, 2023

Senator Rick Scott is just one of many Republican politicians who have fallen victim to swatting over the Christmas-New Year’s holidays.

Georgia Senator Clint Dixon, as well as House Republicans Marjorie Taylor Greene and Brandon Williams were also swatted earlier this week.

Now, Sen. Scott is promising to push legislation that ensures the “cowards” behind swatting face “real consequences.”He says he is in talks with law enforcement to make sure swatters face justice.

Take a look at his post on X:

I’m going to make sure that the cowards who make these calls & waste law enforcement resources to terrorize & harass their targets will face real consequences.

I’m talking to law enforcement about what legislation is needed to guarantee justice when “swatting” calls happen. https://t.co/rQftPoW2Hd

— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) December 29, 2023

The Tampa Bay Times reported on the recent rise in swatting attacks against prominent Republicans like Sen. Rick Scott and others:

A spate of false reports of shootings at the homes of public officials in recent days could be setting the stage for stricter penalties against so-called swatting in more states.

U.S. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Georgia U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost have been among the victims.

Several Georgia lawmakers targeted say they want increased penalties for swatting, like laws enacted this year in Ohio and Virginia. Similar bills are pending in other states and Congress.

Here’s a look at the issue and what could be done about it:

What is ‘swatting’?

Swatting is the act of making a prank call to emergency services to prompt a response at a particular address. The goal is to get authorities, particularly a SWAT team, to show up.

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Calls in multiple states in recent days featured the voice of a man calling himself “Jamal,” claiming he had shot his wife because she was sleeping with another man and saying he was holding the boyfriend hostage, demanding $10,000.

Two Ohio lawmakers said they thought they were targeted recently for helping pass a law making swatting a felony in the state.

Georgia state Sen. Clint Dixon said the incident at his house in Buford on Christmas evening was “quite startling” for himself, his wife and three children.

“I was watching a little football and my wife was upstairs packing for a trip, and all of a sudden, I heard her, you know, start yelling, ‘There’s police running at the door.’ She saw on our Ring doorbell,” he said.

The New York Post gave a few more details:

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) became the third GOP member of Congress to be “swatted” during this week’s holiday recess, following earlier false reports to law enforcement of incidents at the homes of Reps. Brandon Williams (R-NY) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).

“Last night, while at dinner with my wife, cowards ‘swatted’ my home in Naples. These criminals wasted the time & resources of our law enforcement in a sick attempt to terrorize my family,” Scott posted Thursday on X.

The Republican senator also thanked the Naples Police Department and the Collier County Sheriff’s Department “for all they do to keep us safe.”

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“Swatting” calls usually allege violent incidents have occurred to prompt a show of force by law enforcement on an unsuspecting person.

Naples police Lt. Bryan McGinn told The Post that officers received a dispatch call at roughly 9:02 p.m. Wednesday from someone claiming a shooting had occurred at Scott’s home.

Earlier false calls to law enforcement were made on Christmas Day about incidents at the homes of Reps. Brandon Williams (R-NY) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).

“Within 15 minutes, we were able to confirm that the events did not occur and the incident was a swatting event,” McGinn said. “This is very much an active and ongoing investigation.”

An incident report obtained by The Post shows the male caller, who identified himself as “Jamal,” said he had shot his wife with an AR-15 rifle three times because she was sleeping with another man.

What do you think should be done about swatting?

How to finally get something done about swatting: piss off Rick Scott.

My Senator doesn’t play. This will be fun to watch. https://t.co/7SfmK10l7k

— Michael R. Caputo (@MichaelRCaputo) December 30, 2023