Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) became the victim of a swatting incident on Thursday when a false emergency call was made to her home in Holly, Michigan. Michigan State Police confirmed they responded to the threat, which was later determined to be unfounded. Swatting, a tactic where fake emergency calls are made to provoke a large police response, has increasingly targeted public figures, raising concerns about their safety.
Slotkin was not at home during the incident, according to her spokeswoman, Lynsey Mukomel. In a statement to the Detroit News, Mukomel emphasized the growing trend of swatting incidents targeting members of Congress. “Congresswoman Slotkin is deeply grateful for the swift and professional response by law enforcement to this unfortunate incident, and that U.S. Capitol Police will be following up to investigate and hopefully hold accountable those responsible,” she said.
This incident is part of a broader rise in swatting cases, particularly against elected officials. Last Christmas, several politicians were targeted, and in March, a suspect linked to over 100 swatting calls was identified. These calls targeted high-ranking members of President Joe Biden’s administration, including Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Jen Easterly.
Slotkin is currently running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), who is retiring. Her opponent, former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers, condemned the swatting incident, stating, “It’s horrific, and I’m relieved that she was not harmed. I sincerely hope that the perpetrators are found and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
