Rep. Elissa Slotkin’s Home In Michigan Hit By Swatting Incident During Senate Campaign
Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) was targeted in a swatting incident on Thursday, with a false emergency call prompting a heavy police response to her home in Holly, Michigan. Michigan State Police confirmed that they responded to the call, but it was quickly determined to be a hoax.
Slotkin was not home at the time of the incident, her spokeswoman Lynsey Mukomel reported to the Detroit News. “This is the latest in a disturbing trend of swatting incidents targeting members of Congress,” Mukomel said. “Congresswoman Slotkin is deeply grateful for the swift and professional response by law enforcement to this unfortunate incident, and that U.S. Capitol Police will be following up to investigate and hopefully hold accountable those responsible.”
Swatting, the act of making false emergency calls to provoke a significant law enforcement response, has been on the rise, especially against public figures. Last year, several politicians were targeted with swatting on Christmas Day. In March, authorities identified a person of interest responsible for over 100 swatting calls, including those aimed at high-ranking officials in the Biden administration, such as Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Jen Easterly.
Slotkin, who is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), is expected to face former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers in a highly competitive race. Rogers condemned the swatting incident, stating, “The event was horrific, and I am glad to hear that she was not harmed. It is my sincere hope that the perpetrators are found and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”