FBI Director Kash Patel addressed recent “swatting” incidents that unfolded this week by saying that the Bureau was working to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.
The statement from Patel comes after several conservative media figures and influencers said this week that they had been swatted.
“I want to address the alarming rise in ‘Swatting’ incidents targeting media figures,” Patel said. “The FBI is aware of this dangerous trend, and my team and I are already taking action to investigate and hold those responsible accountable.”
“Swatting” is a dangerous and illegal prank where a person contacts law enforcement and makes false claims about an event taking place at a specific address — like a mass shooting or hostage situation — with the aim of generating a large law enforcement response to that address.
Patel continued, “This isn’t about politics—weaponizing law enforcement against ANY American is not only morally reprehensible but also endangers lives, including those of our officers. That will not be tolerated.”
He added that the FBI was working with local law enforcement departments to crack down on the crimes.
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.
This isn’t about politics—weaponizing law enforcement…
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) March 14, 2025
U.S. Attorney Ed Martin said in a statement after some of the swatting incidents became public this week that if any of the perpetrators were discovered in the District of Columbia, they would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) suggested on Thursday that swatting should be “prosecuted as attempted murder.”
“If you send heavily armed men to someone’s house with a false assertion that a violent crime is being committed there, you’re creating a grave risk that an innocent person will get shot,” he said.
