Special Counsel Jack Smith was reportedly among the numerous public officials targeted in swatting incidents on Christmas Day, with an incident at his home in Maryland, NBC News reported.
Montgomery County Police dispatched two units to Smith’s home after someone called 911 and said that Smith had shot his wife at the address where Smith lives, sources within law enforcement told NBC News.
Upon arrival, however, the Deputy U.S. Marshals protecting Smith and his family told law enforcement, according to NBC News, that the family was safe in the home and the incident was a false alarm.
Smith, who is overseeing the federal prosecution of former President Donald Trump in his mishandling of classified documents and election subversion cases, has reportedly faced threats since bringing his first indictment against the former president. Smith’s attorney Cecil VanDevender told an appeals court that following the many “inflammatory posts” Trump has made on Truth Social about Smith, his office “been subject to multiple threats” and “intimidating communication.”
Trump’s social media posts about Smith and his office, as well as other judges overseeing his federal cases and their clerks have inspired gag orders, attempting to bar the former president from mentioning them online.
A slew of swatting incidents against local and federal politicians occurring at their private homes have been reported since Christmas Day. Swatting is the act of make a false police call prompting emergency service response to a private residence or business.
Georgia Secretary of States Brad Raffensperger has made a call for lawmakers to pass anti-swatting legislation.
Recent swatting incidents have occurred at the home and businesses of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. and her daughters, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, Rep. Brandon Williams, R-N.Y., and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.