Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones appears to be the latest Republican lawmaker to become the victim of “swatting,” he said in a social media post on Thursday.
The alleged “swatting” case — a term for when law enforcement responds to false allegations of a violent incident at an unsuspecting person’s home — follows several other reports of false 911 calls involving mostly GOP politicians since last week.
“Last night, my home was ‘swatted’. This morning, a bomb threat was called to my office. Thankfully everyone is safe, and I commend our local law enforcement officers for their professionalism,” Jones wrote on X.
The bomb threat was made to Jones’ Jackson, Ga., district office, The Post has learned, and the incident is being investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigations and FBI.
“Let me be clear — I will not be intimidated by those attempting to silence me. We will put an end to this madness. We are in full compliance with law enforcement, and I am confident that those responsible will be brought to justice and be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Jones added.
GBI’s Cyber Unit “is working closely with our local, state and federal partners to determine who is responsible for the recent swatting incidents of several Georgia lawmakers,” the agency told The Post.
Several lawmakers in the Peach State and across the country have been the targets of fake 911 calls since last week.
Cops were called to Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene’s (R-Ga.) home on Christmas Day after an individual phoned a suicide hotline claiming to have shot his girlfriend at the far-right politician’s home and threatening to kill himself, according to police.
Republican Georgia state Sens. John Albers, Kay Kirkpatrick and Clint Dixon, as well as Democrat Kim Jackson, were also “swatted” on Christmas Day, according to Fox 5 Atlanta.
Rep. Brandon Williams (R-NY) had his upstate New York home “swatted” on Christmas Day as well, just hours after Greene’s home was also visited by local law enforcement.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) became the third GOP member of Congress to be “swatted” during this week’s holiday recess when police responded to his home in Naples, Fla., on the same night Jones said law enforcement authorities were called to his home.
Boston’s Mayor Michelle Wu, a Democrat, was “swatted” two weeks after she hosted a controversial holiday party for the non-white city council members.
Police also responded to Republican Ohio state Rep. Kevin D. Miller’s the day after Christmas after fake reports of a shooting, according to local authorities.