Executive Summary
- Senator Rick Scott’s Naples home was targeted by a swatting attempt on Thanksgiving, the second such incident in two years.
- Scott was not home during the incident and praised law enforcement for their swift response.
- The Senator is renewing calls for the “Preserving Safe Communities by Ending Swatting Act,” which would make swatting a federal crime.
- Proposed penalties range from five years in prison for false reports to life imprisonment if the act results in death.
Senator Rick Scott’s home in Naples, Florida, was the target of a “swatting” attempt on Thanksgiving morning, marking the second time in less than two years that the senator’s residence has been subjected to such a hoax. According to a statement released by Senator Scott on the social media platform X, he was not at the residence at the time of the incident and expressed gratitude to local law enforcement for their rapid response.
“These attacks are disgusting and cruel acts that only seek to put law enforcement in harm’s way and instill fear in targets and communities — they must stop,” Senator Scott stated regarding the incident. The practice of swatting involves making false emergency calls to dispatch armed police units to a specific location under the pretense of a critical threat. The senator confirmed that authorities are currently working to identify the individual responsible for the Thanksgiving morning false alarm.
In the wake of this latest event, Senator Scott reiterated his commitment to passing the “Preserving Safe Communities by Ending Swatting Act,” legislation he introduced alongside Senator Tommy Tuberville earlier in 2024. The proposed bill aims to classify swatting as a federal crime. According to the text of the proposal, penalties would include up to five years in prison for false reports, 20 years if the incident results in serious injury, and life imprisonment if a death occurs. Additionally, the bill would mandate that offenders reimburse law enforcement agencies for the financial costs incurred during these emergency responses.
Legislative and Safety Implications
The recurrence of swatting incidents targeting public officials—including Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene—highlights a growing challenge for legislative bodies and law enforcement agencies nationwide. Beyond the immediate security risks to the targets and responding officers, these hoaxes divert critical emergency resources from genuine crises. As the investigation into the incident at Senator Scott’s home remains ongoing, the push for federal anti-swatting statutes reflects a shifting legal strategy to deter digital harassment through significant federal sentencing guidelines rather than relying solely on state-level charges for the misuse of emergency services.
