Following a recent rise in “swatting” incidents aimed at conservative audio hosts — among them the nationally-syndicated Joe “Pags” Pagliarulo and “Ungoverned” podcast host Shawn Farash — FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has posted a statement on social media site X, while the heads of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the FBI have doubled-down on tracking those responsible.
“Swatting” is the term used for when armed police are sent to a person’s house under false pretenses. According to the New York Post, Farash and podcaster Nick Sortor reported similar swatting incidents on the same day last week as Pagliarulo, while InfoWars host Owen Shroyer uploaded a video sharing that he had just been swatted.
“The recent surge in ‘swatting’ attacks against conservatives is a dangerous form of political violence,” Carr posted. “I’ve been in touch with law enforcement to ensure they have access to the trace-back resources that locate a call’s originating point. Bad actors will face accountability.”
Meanwhile, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted on X, “We will not sit idly by as conservative new[s] media and their families are being targeted by false swatting. We will hunt these cowards down. This is an attack on our law enforcement and innocent families, and we will prosecute it as such.”
In another social media post, FBI Director Kash Patel added, “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. We are fully committed to working with local law enforcement to crack down on these crimes.”
While recounting the incident during his radio show earlier this week, Pagliarulo mentioned that he texted Patel suggesting the FBI investigate the rise of politically motivated swatting. “They’re targeting anyone who’s a conservative,” he said on air.
In January, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), introduced a bill that would increase penalties against those found guilty of making swatting calls, with prison sentences of up to 20 years for false calls resulting in serious injury or death.
“Multiple conservative influencers and pundits have had their homes swatted in the past several days,” Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX), co-sponsor of the bill, said in a statement. “This is an extremely dangerous form of political terrorism. It’s liable to get somebody killed, and it must end now.”
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