<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/maine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maine</a> Secretary of State Shenna Bellows is speaking out after her home was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/swatting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;swatted&#8221;</a> the day after she <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/maine-kicks-trump-off-2024-primary-ballot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">disqualified</a> former President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> from the state&#8217;s 2024 primary ballot.
Bellows, a Democrat, said on Saturday that she is concerned for the safety of her family amid fallout from her ruling on Thursday that found Trump violated the <a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/amendment-14/section-3/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">14th Amendment&#8217;s</a> insurrection clause due to his conduct leading up to the U.S. Capitol breach on January 6, 2021, and wanted to make a statement.
&#8220;I decided to speak out today because threats of violence are unacceptable. Swatting the home of an elected official, who is doing their job, is unacceptable,&#8221; <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbUw9fCNpwc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">she told MSNBC host Symone Sanders-Townsend</a>. &#8220;And what my staff, my team have experienced — what they experienced all day yesterday, was a constant onslaught of threatening communications. And that has to stop.&#8221;
Maine State Police said a call was made by an unknown male on Friday in which he claimed to have broken into an Augusta-area home, prompting a law enforcement response in what authorities ultimately determined was a swatting call, according to <a href="https://wgme.com/news/local/maine-secretary-of-state-bellows-home-targeted-in-swatting-incident" target="_blank" rel="noopener">local CBS affiliate WGME</a>. Both police and Bellows confirmed that it was her home that was the target. She added that she was away with her husband when the swatting occurred.
&#8220;Many of you have asked if Brandon and I are safe. We are away for the holiday weekend. We were not home yesterday when threats escalated, and our home address was posted online,&#8221; Bellows <a href="https://www.facebook.com/shenna.bellows/posts/10229126164831270?ref=embed_post" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post on social media. &#8220;It was a good thing because our home was swatted last night. That’s when someone calls in a fake emergency to evoke a strong law enforcement response to scare the target. Swatting incidents have resulted in casualties although thankfully this one did not.&#8221;
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The &#8220;swatting&#8221; incident was the latest in a string of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mtg-vows-to-introduce-legislation-to-crack-down-on-swatting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fake reports of an emergency</a> to law enforcement targeting elected officials of both parties this holiday season, including Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/marjorie-taylor-greene" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marjorie Taylor Greene</a> (R-GA), <a href="https://www.bostonherald.com/2023/12/26/boston-mayor-michelle-wus-home-swatted-on-christmas-day/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boston Democratic Mayor Michelle Wu</a>, and <a href="https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/crime/2023/12/28/rick-scott-reports-swatting-attempt-at-florida-home-what-is-swatting/72046922007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL)</a>.
Asked what steps are being taken to ensure that threats do not affect her ability to serve the people of Maine, Bellows said she has been &#8220;so fortunate&#8221; as she praised the work of law enforcement to keep her, her family, and her team safe. Bellows also said that she has received an outpouring of support from the Maine community, including from those people who disagree with her ruling, against which Trump&#8217;s campaign has vowed to file a legal challenge.
&#8220;But it is important for all good people to speak up,&#8221; she said. &#8220;And furthermore, I also want to call out the dehumanizing images that have been placed online of me, the threatening communications to people in my family, and to my staff, people who work for me. It is designed to instill fear, and to provoke silence, to keep people from speaking out, to send a message — and it is absolutely wrong and we cannot stand for it.&#8221;

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Maine Official Who Disqualified Trump From Ballot Says She’s Been Hit By ‘Onslaught’ Of Threats

Maine Official Who Disqualified Trump From Ballot Hit By 'Onslaught' Of Threats

2024 Election

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Donald Trump

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Swatting

Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/marjorie-taylor-greene" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marjorie Taylor Greene</a> (R-GA) said on Wednesday that she plans to introduce legislation that would make it easier to combat <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/swatting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;swatting&#8221;</a> incidents that have impacted her and many others across the country.
The announcement came as Greene, also known as &#8220;MTG,&#8221; and other elected officials were targeted this holiday season by calls to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/law-enforcement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">law enforcement</a> involving fake reports of an emergency.
&#8220;The dangerous swatting harassment continues, as tonight, one of my family members was swatted at their house,&#8221; Greene <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMTG/status/1740193293965902021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in a post</a> to X. &#8220;I will be introducing legislation to make it much easier for law enforcement to arrest and prosecutors to prosecute these criminals.&#8221;
Swatting incidents can already lead to <a href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R47557#_Toc135223786" target="_blank" rel="noopener">charges</a>, but they have become increasingly commonplace with the <a href="https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/the-crime-of-swatting-fake-9-1-1-calls-have-real-consequences1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rise of technology</a> that makes it easier to trick people. <a href="https://www.13abc.com/2023/12/28/multiple-schools-hospitals-synagogues-targeting-swatting-hoaxes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Schools, religious institutions</a>, hospitals, online gamers, and public figures are among the many targets of the hoax calls. In <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/la-man-arrested-swatting-incident-led-police-killing/story?id=52057251" target="_blank" rel="noopener">some</a> <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/14/us/swatting-sentence-casey-viner/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cases</a>, the result can be deadly. The FBI has formed a <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/fbi-creates-national-database-track-swatting/story?id=100527427" target="_blank" rel="noopener">national database</a> to help track swatting.
This week, multiple elected officials reportedly became victims of swatting calls, including <a href="https://www.bostonherald.com/2023/12/26/boston-mayor-michelle-wus-home-swatted-on-christmas-day/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boston Democratic Mayor Michelle Wu</a>, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/second-house-republican-gets-swatted-on-christmas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rep. Brandon Williams (R-NY)</a>, and <a href="https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/crime/2023/12/28/rick-scott-reports-swatting-attempt-at-florida-home-what-is-swatting/72046922007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL)</a>.
&#8220;Last night, while at dinner with my wife, cowards &#8216;swatted&#8217; my home in Naples. These criminals wasted the time &amp; resources of our law enforcement in a sick attempt to terrorize my family,&#8221; Scott said in a <a href="https://twitter.com/SenRickScott/status/1740355797190934542" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post to X</a> on Thursday. The senator also said he and his wife Ann wanted to thank local law enforcement &#8220;for all they do to keep us safe.&#8221;
In a post to X on Monday, Greene announced that she had just been <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMTG/status/1739312209996497293" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;swatted&#8221; for &#8220;like the 8th time&#8221;</a> 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&#8217;s address and warning he would kill himself next, according to <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/police-confirm-christmas-swatting-incident-marjorie-taylor-greenes-hou-rcna131131" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBC News</a>. A Rome police spokesperson <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/this-is-not-the-first-incident-marjorie-taylor-greene-swatted-at-her-home-on-christmas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said her department</a> called Greene&#8217;s security team and a police response to the congresswoman&#8217;s home was cancelled at their behest.
“My local police are the GREATEST and shouldn’t have to deal with this,” Greene <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMTG/status/1739312209996497293" target="_blank" rel="noopener">added</a> 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!”

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene

MTG Vows To Introduce Legislation To Crack Down On ‘Swatting’

MTG Vows To Introduce Legislation To Crack Down On 'Swatting'

Congress

Marjorie Taylor Greene

Rick Scott

U.S.

A second member of the U.S. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-house-of-representatives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House</a> got &#8220;swatted&#8221; on Christmas after a false report of a crime prompted a law enforcement response to the home of Rep. Brandon Williams (R-NY) on the same day <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/this-is-not-the-first-incident-marjorie-taylor-greene-swatted-at-her-home-on-christmas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a similar incident disrupted the holiday</a> for Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/marjorie-taylor-greene" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marjorie Taylor Greene</a> (R-GA).
&#8220;Our home was swatted this afternoon. Thanks to the Deputies and Troopers who contacted me before arriving,&#8221; Williams <a href="https://twitter.com/RepWilliams/status/1739368231998013825" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post to X on Monday. &#8220;They left with homemade cookies and spiced nuts! Merry Christmas everyone!&#8221;
The post showed images of law enforcement officers walking around the property with Williams and posing for a photo with him.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Our home was swatted this afternoon. Thanks to the Deputies and Troopers who contacted me before arriving.
They left with homemade cookies and spiced nuts! Merry Christmas everyone! <a href="https://t.co/uQ2xkzLVJ6">pic.twitter.com/uQ2xkzLVJ6</a>
&mdash; Rep. Brandon Williams (@RepWilliams) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepWilliams/status/1739368231998013825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck <a href="https://auburnpub.com/news/local/cayuga-county-sheriff-rep-williams-swatted-with-report-of-shooting/article_057e0242-a395-11ee-9fcb-032b14b23147.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told The Citizen</a>, a local news outlet, that his office is now conducting an investigation into who made the call.
&#8220;It is unfortunate that someone would make such a false report on Christmas Day and cause Congressman Williams and his family such an inconvenience on this important holiday,&#8221; Schenck said.
In another post to X, Williams <a href="https://twitter.com/RepWilliams/status/1739420034248622340" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Capitol Police were investigating the incident along with local law enforcement.
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&#8220;Thankful for law enforcement working today (&amp; every day). 5 cars responded to our home,&#8221; Williams said. &#8220;The deputies &amp; troopers were polite, professional, &amp; prompt. God bless them.&#8221;
Also on Christmas Day, Greene announced in a post to X that she had become the victim of a &#8220;swatting&#8221; incident — <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/marjorie-taylor-greene-targeted-with-fake-shooting-swatting-calls-police-say" target="_blank" rel="noopener">again</a> — while her family was visiting for the holiday.
Maj. Rodney Bailey, who works with the police department in Rome, Georgia, said someone based in Rome, New York, called the suicide hotline claiming to have shot his girlfriend at Greene&#8217;s address and warning he would kill himself next, according to <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/police-confirm-christmas-swatting-incident-marjorie-taylor-greenes-hou-rcna131131" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBC News</a>.
A Rome police spokesperson said her department called Greene&#8217;s security team and a police response to the congresswoman&#8217;s home was cancelled at their behest, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/this-is-not-the-first-incident-marjorie-taylor-greene-swatted-at-her-home-on-christmas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire previously reported</a>.
While officials have not tied the incidents together, Rome, New York, is located in Oneida County, which, like Cayuga County, is located in the center of the state. The congressional district represented by Williams <a href="https://ziplook.house.gov/htbin/findrep_house?ZIP=13440" target="_blank" rel="noopener">includes Rome</a>.
In her social media post, Greene thanked local law enforcement for their efforts.
“My local police are the GREATEST and shouldn’t have to deal with this,” Greene <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMTG/status/1739312209996497293" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a 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!”

Rep. Brandon Williams

Second House Republican Gets ‘Swatted’ On Christmas

Second House Republican Gets 'Swatted' On Christmas

New York

Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/marjorie-taylor-greene" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marjorie Taylor Greene</a> (R-GA) said on Monday that she was swatted at her home on Christmas, which she estimated was approximately the eighth time that it has happened to her.
The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/12/25/news/marjorie-taylor-greene-gets-unwelcome-christmas-day-surprise/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that the incident happened when someone called a suicide hotline and claimed that he shot his girlfriend and said he was threatening to commit suicide.
&#8220;I was just swatted,&#8221; Greene wrote on X. &#8220;This is like the 8th time. On Christmas with my family here.&#8221;
&#8220;My local police are the GREATEST and shouldn’t have to deal with this,&#8221; she added. &#8220;I appreciate them so much and my family and I are in joyous spirits celebrating the birth of our savior Jesus Christ!&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I was just swatted.
This is like the 8th time.
On Christmas with my family here.
My local police are the GREATEST and shouldn’t have to deal with this.
I appreciate them so much and my family and I are in joyous spirits celebrating the birth of our savior Jesus Christ!
&mdash; Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMTG/status/1739312209996497293?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
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A spokesperson for the Rome Police Department in Georgia confirmed the incident in a statement that noted &#8220;this is not the first incident.&#8221;
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&#8220;As we were preparing to respond, we reached out to her security detail and it was determined that there wasn&#8217;t any emergency and that she was safe,&#8221; said Kelly Madden, a public information officer for the department. &#8220;Our response was actually canceled en route.&#8221;
&#8220;Swatting&#8221; refers to a sinister harassment tactic where someone reports a fake emergency to law enforcement, usually something involving violence, with the hopes that law enforcement responds to the incident with a SWAT team. Swatting incidents have led to people getting <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/14/us/swatting-sentence-casey-viner/index.html">killed</a>.

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‘This Is Not The First Incident’: Marjorie Taylor Greene Swatted At Her Home On Christmas

'This Is Not The First Incident': Marjorie Taylor Greene Swatted At Her Home On Christmas

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Maine Official Who Disqualified Trump From Ballot Says She’s Been Hit By ‘Onslaught’ Of Threats

MTG Vows To Introduce Legislation To Crack Down On ‘Swatting’

Second House Republican Gets ‘Swatted’ On Christmas

‘This Is Not The First Incident’: Marjorie Taylor Greene Swatted At Her Home On Christmas