OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is overseeing the prosecution of former President Donald Trump in two federal cases, was the victim of an attempted swatting at his home in Maryland on Christmas Day.
Two law enforcement sources have confirmed that someone contacted 911 to report that Smith had shot and killed his wife at their residence, NBC News reported.
Police from Montgomery County were about to send units to the house when Smith’s family’s Deputy U.S. Marshals informed them it was all an elaborate hoax and that everyone inside was fine. The incident has not resulted in any arrests.
The Special Counsel’s Office did not want to comment, according to their spokesperson. No one from the police or the US Marshals Service has spoken out either. In addition, Smith is supervising the prosecution of Trump in connection with the purported mishandling of classified documents at the Mar a Lago residence. “Not guilty” is Trump’s plea in both instances.
Swatting is a “prank” where police are called to a home after someone falsely reports that a crime has taken place or is taking place.
Reports broke on Monday that U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is presiding over the case of Trump’s alleged election interference case in Washington, D.C., was the victim of a swatting call.
Lawfare reporter Anna Bower reported on X (formerly Twitter) that Chutkan’s residence in the capital was the scene of a reported shooting, which prompted the response of the police and fire departments.
Judge Chutkan “may have been the target of a ‘swatting’ call tonight,” Bower wrote on X. “Police & fire services responded to a reported shooting at a home in D.C. They found nothing. Per property records, Chutkan owns the home.”
“I’m not posting the audio from the dispatch here because it includes the address of the home that appears to be owned by Judge Chutkan,” Bower added. “But according to the dispatch, police who responded to the shooting report ‘thoroughly searched the area’ and found nothing.”
According to the audio from the police response, which was also shared on social media, the caller stated that a residence in Northwest Washington had numerous victims. According to the property records that Newsweek reviewed, the home mentioned in the call is owned by Chutkan.
Tanya Chutkan, presiding judge in Trump’s D.C. criminal case, may have been the target of a “swatting” call tonight.
Police & fire services responded to a reported shooting at a home in D.C. They found nothing.
Per property records, Chutkan owns the home.
h/t @DaveStroup pic.twitter.com/mKZaMUZdIm
— Anna Bower (@AnnaBower) January 8, 2024
Last week, left-wing billionaire George Soros fell victim to a phony “swatting” incident, becoming the latest high-profile figure to have police called to their homes for a false emergency.
“The Southampton Village, New York, estate of George Soros was reportedly “swatted” on Saturday, adding the left-wing billionaire to a list of other high-profile people who have become victims of the 911 prank over the past couple of weeks,” Fox News reported.
The outlet cited a New York Post report that said the Southampton Village Police Department took a 911 call shortly before 9 p.m. on Saturday from someone claiming that he shot his wife and was then threatening to kill himself at the Old Town Road mansion of Soros.
Officers hurried to the scene, but the call turned out to be false, per Southampton Village Detective Sgt. Herman Lamison, the Post noted.
Soros has funneled billions to left-wing causes and policies over decades, most recently pouring tens of millions into metro-area district attorney races to elect ‘progressive’ candidates who go on to implement ‘reforms’ such as ending cash bail and refusing to prosecute a large number of crimes. Police and police advocates have blamed those policies for dramatic increases in crime in their jurisdictions.
Late last week, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said that her home was “swatted” after she decided to remove Trump from her state’s Republican primary ballot.
Also, a disgusted and frustrated Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) sounded off on Christmas Day after being “swatted” again for what she believes was the eighth time.
Rome, Ga., police were called again to Taylor’s home for an alleged emergency shortly before noon, the New York Post confirmed.
