Over the Christmas break, Senator Rick Scott's (R-FL) Naples residence was "swatted" by unknown callers. Upon returning to Congress, Sen. Scott and Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) introduced a bill increasing the criminal penalties for swatting.
"Swatting," as it is known, is the act of making a fraudulent police call to a victim's address in order to terrorize the occupants. Sen. Scott and his wife Ann were not home when the assailant called the police, although he condemned the callers as "cowards" and "criminals" on X (formerly Twitter).
"Last night, while at dinner with my wife, cowards “swatted” my home in Naples. These criminals wasted the time & resources of our law enforcement in a sick attempt to terrorize my family. Ann & I want to thank @NaplesPolice & @CollierSheriff for all they do to keep us safe," Scott tweeted.
Last night, while at dinner with my wife, cowards “swatted” my home in Naples. These criminals wasted the time & resources of our law enforcement in a sick attempt to terrorize my family.
Ann & I want to thank @NaplesPolice & @CollierSheriff for all they do to keep us safe.
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) December 28, 2023
As a result, the new bill introduced by him and Sen. Tuberville would stiffen the criminal penalties for such an act, including up to 20 years in prison if someone receives an injury in a swatting attack.
In his press release, Scott cited his own case and the swatting of other elected officials such as Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Jewish institutions.
"It’s sickening, dangerous and we must stop it. I’m incredibly grateful for the work of law enforcement around our nation to keep us safe and put their lives on the line every day. They shouldn’t be put in danger and have their time and resources wasted because of these disgusting hoaxes. Today, I am introducing a bill to make sure the criminals who make these false calls and waste law enforcement resources face serious consequences, including years in prison, if anyone is seriously harmed. We must send a message to the cowards behind these calls—this isn’t a joke, it’s a crime," said Scott.
The bill has received cosponsors in the form of Bill Johnson, Executive Director of the National Association of Police Organizations, and Sheriff Greg Champagne, President of the National Sheriffs' Association.
