Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) said on Wednesday that she plans to introduce legislation that would make it easier to combat “swatting” incidents that have impacted her and many others across the country.
The announcement came as Greene, also known as “MTG,” and other elected officials were targeted this holiday season by calls to law enforcement involving fake reports of an emergency.
“The dangerous swatting harassment continues, as tonight, one of my family members was swatted at their house,” Greene said in a post to X. “I will be introducing legislation to make it much easier for law enforcement to arrest and prosecutors to prosecute these criminals.”
Swatting incidents can already lead to charges, but they have become increasingly commonplace with the rise of technology that makes it easier to trick people. Schools, religious institutions, hospitals, online gamers, and public figures are among the many targets of the hoax calls. In some cases, the result can be deadly. The FBI has formed a national database to help track swatting.
This week, multiple elected officials reportedly became victims of swatting calls, including Boston Democratic Mayor Michelle Wu, Rep. Brandon Williams (R-NY), and Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL).
“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 said in a post to X on Thursday. The senator also said he and his wife Ann wanted to thank local law enforcement “for all they do to keep us safe.”
In a post to X on Monday, Greene announced that she had just been “swatted” for “like the 8th time” while celebrating the Christmas holiday with her family.
Police in Rome, Georgia, said someone in Rome, New York, called the suicide hotline claiming to have shot his girlfriend at Greene’s address and warning he would kill himself next, according to NBC News. A Rome police spokesperson said her department called Greene’s security team and a police response to the congresswoman’s home was cancelled at their behest.
“My local police are the GREATEST and shouldn’t have to deal with this,” Greene added in her post to X. “I appreciate them so much and my family and I are in joyous spirits celebrating the birth of our savior Jesus Christ!”