Sen. Rick Scott latest lawmaker to fall victim to ‘swatting’ attempt

After two U.S. representatives were targeted by “swatting” attempts on Christmas Day, Sen. Rick Scott of Florida announced Thursday that his home had also been “swatted.”

Scott, a Republican and former Florida governor, said in a social media post that while he was out to dinner with his wife, Ann, Wednesday night, “cowards ‘swatted’ my home in Naples.”

“Swatting” involves falsely making a crime report to draw police, SWAT teams or emergency services to a particular location, typically another person’s home address.

In a post on X, Scott said “these criminals wasted the time & resources of our law enforcement in a sick attempt to terrorize my family.”

He said he and his wife thanked the Naples Police Department and Collier County Sheriff’s Office “for all they do to keep us safe.”

On Christmas Day, Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Republican U.S. Rep. Brandon Williams of New York were the targets of swatting attempts at their homes.

A police spokesperson said a man in New York called the Georgia suicide hotline just before 11 a.m. Monday, claiming that he had shot his girlfriend at Greene’s home and was going to kill himself next, but the call was quickly transferred to police when suicide hotline responders recognized the Georgia congresswoman’s address.

Greene said it was roughly the eighth time her home had been “swatted.” The Rome (Georgia) Police Department quickly verified that the call was a hoax and did not send officers to Greene’s house.

The department said it contacted Greene’s private security detail to confirm she was safe and that there was no emergency at her residence.

Greene posted Wednesday night that one of her family members was also “swatted” this week and she plans to do something about it.

Williams said in a post on X that he was also targeted by a swatting attempt on Christmas Day. The Cayuga (New York) County Sheriff’s office said it received a false report of a shooting at the congressman’s home in central New York and sent officers to confirm that there was no present danger.

“Our home was swatted this afternoon,” Williams wrote. “Thanks to the Deputies and Troopers who contacted me before arriving. They left with homemade cookies and spiced nuts! Merry Christmas everyone!”