US President Joe Biden has spoken out against “swatting” attacks targeting lawmakers and several of his administration’s cabinet nominees. The attacks, which involve making false reports to police to induce chaos and fear, have been used to target prominent figures in recent weeks.
On Friday, Biden said his administration is working with the FBI to address the issue. This comes after six Democratic lawmakers from Connecticut reported similar threats to their homes over the Thanksgiving holiday. Law enforcement found no evidence of explosive devices in each case.
Two of Trump’s cabinet nominees, Pete Hegseth and Lee Zeldin, were among those targeted with bomb threats and swatting attempts on Tuesday and Wednesday. Swatting is a form of harassment that has been increasingly used to target prominent figures.
House Democrats have vowed not to be intimidated by the violent threats. “We will not be deterred or intimidated from serving the people by violent threats,” said Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Biden also spoke about Trump’s transition, saying he expects to speak with him again during this time. The US President-elect has faced threats in recent months, including an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania and a man being charged with attempted assassination outside one of his Florida golf courses.
The incident is the latest in a series of violent attacks targeting prominent figures, raising concerns about the safety of public officials.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-says-working-with-fbi-threats-lawmakers-trump-cabinet-picks-2024-11-29