In a truly alarming turn of events, a fabricated emergency prompted an urgent police response to the South Carolina residence of Nikki Haley, a Republican presidential candidate, just last month. Shocking town records, obtained by Reuters, reveal the distressing details of an unidentified individual claiming to have shot a woman and threatened self-harm at Haley’s home—a sinister act known as “swatting.” This perilous practice involves filing false reports to provoke a potentially hazardous police response, escalating the risk of harm.

The incident, unfolding on December 30 in Kiawah Island, an affluent gated community, adds to a disturbing surge in violent threats and intimidation targeting government officials, members of the judiciary, and election administrators since the tumultuous 2020 election.

Over the past two months, the wave of swatting cases has reached a fever pitch, affecting both allies and adversaries of former President Donald Trump, who actively seeks a return to the White House. Notably, figures opposing Trump, such as Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, and supporters like U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, have fallen prey to swatting attempts.

For Haley, who is challenging Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, the false emergency call prompted an extensive investigation involving South Carolina’s state police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Haley’s security team. The gravity of the situation became even more apparent with an email from Craig Harris, Kiawah Island director of public safety, confirming, “It was determined to be a hoax… Nikki Haley is not on the island and her son is with her.”

This incident, just one among 27 documented swatting cases targeting politicians, prosecutors, election officials, and judges since November 2023, reveals a disturbing pattern. Some incidents share unsettling similarities, such as calls falsely attributing violent acts to a person named “Jamal.” Targets extend beyond political figures to include judges and prosecutors involved in cases against Trump.

In addition to the surge in swatting incidents, judges and prosecutors handling cases against Trump have become specific targets. False reports of a bomb at the home of Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron and a shooting at the home of U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan raise serious concerns about the safety of those engaged in legal proceedings against the former president. The FBI underscores the hazardous nature of swatting incidents, emphasizing the risk they pose to both first responders and unsuspecting victims.

This recent upswing in swatting incidents aligns with a broader trend of political violence in the United States since the tumultuous events of January 6, 2021, when Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. This disconcerting development underscores the urgent need for heightened security measures and intensified law enforcement efforts to address threats against public officials and ensure the safeguarding of the democratic process.