Minnesota Sixth District Congressman Tom Emmer a Victim of Swatting Saturday Night

(KNSI) — Minnesota’s Sixth District Congressman Tom Emmer says he was a victim of swatting on Saturday night.

Swatting refers to anonymously calling 911 to report a violent crime and is designed to provoke a significant law enforcement response at a certain address. In the past, there have been examples across the country where people inside mistake officers for burglars attempting a home invasion. On the flip side, deputies or troopers arrive expecting an active threat, putting innocent people at risk.

Emmer said he was thankful neither he nor his family were home when it happened, and he actively condemned what he calls an “illegal abuse of police resources.” Falsely reporting a crime is a gross misdemeanor in Minnesota, with a conviction potentially involving jail time and a fine of up to $3,000.

A rash of swatting incidents have occurred at the home of prominent political figures, mostly from the GOP, in recent weeks. Emmer, a Republican, is the majority whip in the U.S. House of Representatives. He took to social media to thank the Wright County Sheriff’s Office for their professionalism in how they handled the situation.

Local examples of swatting include District 742. A caller falsely alleged that a shooting was taking place at Apollo High School in September 2022. The Fergus Falls district was swatted in September 2023, and 200 Jewish synagogues and schools were targeted nationwide just last month.

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