OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said that her home was “swatted” after her decision to remove former President Donald Trump from her state’s Republican primary ballot.
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.
The Secretary of State announced that she had been swatted in a post on Facebook.
“Dear friends, Thank you for the messages of love and support. I’ve been moved by every one and especially by those from friends and loved ones who disagree with my decision but have reached out to express love and respect. Many of you have asked if Brandon and I are safe. We are away for the holiday weekend. We were not home yesterday when threats escalated, and our home address was posted online. It was a good thing because our home was swatted last night. That’s when someone calls in a fake emergency to evoke a strong law enforcement response to scare the target. Swatting incidents have resulted in casualties although thankfully this one did not,” she said in the post.
“This behavior is unacceptable. The non-stop threatening communications the people who work for me endured all day yesterday is unacceptable. It’s designed to scare not only me but also others into silence, to send a message. I am so grateful to have such an amazing team of employees at the Department of Secretary of State. Brandon and I are grateful for incredible, dedicated support from law enforcement in this time. They’ve been amazing,” the Secretary of State said.
“I’ll be off social media this weekend, so I won’t see or be able to respond to your messages of love and support. But please keep sharing that love. And please encourage those whom you influence to de-escalate the rhetoric. The Maine Wire for example has been posting extraordinarily dehumanizing fake images of me. (Others have posted fake text threads attributed to me; remember that if it doesn’t sound like something I would say, it probably isn’t.),” she said.
“I know from my previous work that dehumanizing a person is the first step in paving the way for attacks and violence against them. These dehumanizing images and threatening communications directed at me and people I love are dangerous. We should be able to agree to disagree on important issues without threats and violence. So my friends, please let’s channel love, respect and kindness and stand up for those Maine values that have always made our state the way life should be. I love you and am grateful for you,” she said.
Swatting is a tactic that has been used against Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on more than one occasion, including one on Christmas.
A disgusted and frustrated Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene 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.
According to the report, someone called into the emergency dispatch center and claimed he shot his girlfriend while threatening suicide himself.
“Our team in their response … coordinated with her security detail and it was determined that there was no emergency and that she was safe,” the spokesperson told The Post. “Our response was actually canceled en route.”
“I was just swatted. This is like the 8th time,” Greene posted on the X platform. “On Christmas with my family here. My local police are the GREATEST and shouldn’t have to deal with this.
“I appreciate them so much and my family and I are in joyous spirits celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ!” she added.
