Trump administration officials are taking decisive action against a dangerous new threat targeting conservative voices. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel have launched a joint operation to combat the alarming rise in “swatting” incidents aimed at conservative media figures.
At a glance:
- DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel are working together to address swatting calls targeting conservative media
- Swatting involves false emergency calls that send armed police to someone’s home, endangering both victims and officers
- Several conservative commentators including Joe “Pags” Pagliarulo have recently been victims of these dangerous incidents
- Noem promised to use DHS capabilities to “hunt these cowards down” and prosecute them to the fullest extent
- A bipartisan bill has been introduced to impose stricter penalties on swatting, with up to 20 years for incidents resulting in serious injury or death
Trump Administration Takes Strong Stand Against Politically Motivated Attacks
The Department of Homeland Security and FBI have joined forces to combat a disturbing trend of “swatting” incidents targeting conservative media personalities. Secretary Kristi Noem made it clear that the Trump administration will not tolerate these dangerous false emergency calls, which have impacted numerous high profile Republican figures, including Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Swatting involves making false emergency calls to law enforcement to trigger an armed response at an innocent person’s home, putting lives at risk and draining police resources. DHS Secretary Noem has pledged the full resources of her department to track down perpetrators.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, we will not sit idly by as conservative news media and their families are being targeted by false swatting,” Noem stated. She stressed that the department has advanced tracking capabilities that will be deployed to identify those responsible.
Conservative Media Figures Share Harrowing Experiences
Several prominent conservative voices have recently fallen victim to these dangerous pranks, including radio host Joe “Pags” Pagliarulo.
Pagliarulo described how armed deputies surrounded his home after someone falsely reported a hostage situation. Other conservative media figures including Nick Sortor, Shawn Farash, and Owen Shroyer have reported similar incidents in recent weeks. The pattern suggests a coordinated effort to silence or intimidate right-leaning voices.
Bipartisan Effort to Crack Down on Dangerous Pranks
FBI Director Kash Patel has made it clear that this issue transcends politics when it comes to enforcement. “I want to address the alarming rise in ‘Swatting’ incidents targeting media figures. The FBI is aware of this dangerous trend, and my team and I are already taking action to investigate and hold those responsible accountable,” Patel stated.
The Director stressed that such attacks endanger everyone involved.
A bipartisan bill has been introduced in Congress that would impose stricter penalties on those convicted of swatting. The proposed legislation would punish perpetrators with up to 20 years in prison for incidents resulting in serious injury or death.
