FBI investigating fake ‘SWAT' calls against conservative media figure
The FBI said it would launch a probe into fake swatting calls after noticing an uptick in pranks targeting conservative media figures that have warranted a response from law enforcement.
'I want to address the alarming rise in 'Swatting' incidents targeting media figures. The FBI is aware of this dangerous trend, and my team and I are already taking action to investigate and hold those responsible accountable,' FBI Director Kash Patel wrote in a Friday morning post on social platform X.
'This isn't about politics—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,' he added.
Several conservative hosts of shows, including Joe Pagliarulo of the 'The Joe Pags Show' and Shawn Farash of 'UNGOVERNED' as well as conservative commentator Nick Sortor, said they have been targeted by individuals who put out false alerts that have involved law enforcement's Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) units.
'They send a tactical team to your house pretending. There's an emergency because their hope is to either scare you on the low end or have you come out and confront the police officers and get killed, you know death by cop or something else,' Pagliarulo said in a Thursday post on X, condemning the fake calls.
'It's a political message they're sending, they don't like that you're a conservative or don't like that you're this that or the other,' he continued.
Pagliarulo said law enforcement officers were surrounding his home at 2 a.m. earlier this week after someone reported that he was holding people hostage and shooting dogs. He thought he was targeted for his remarks in reference to Ukraine during the last election cycle.
Sortor said the SWAT calls to his family's home was nothing short of 'attempted murder.'
'Both my dad and my sister were swatted tonight. A dozen cops attempted to kick my dad's door in at gunpoint. This is literal f‑‑‑ing terrorism. And the FBI should treat it as such,' he wrote online Thursday.
'Before calling in the swat, this dumbs‑‑‑ sent my sister an email calling me a Nazi, of course. So the motive is clear. In my dad's case, the caller told police my dad was killing my entire family, requiring them to intervene with deadly force.'
The FBI said it would look into the calls and provide more information after the probe.
'We are fully committed to working with local law enforcement to crack down on these crimes,' Patel wrote in his post. 'More updates to come.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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