'Getting crazy': Internet outraged as Trump prosecutor Jack Smith is latest target in ‘swatting’ attack

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND: On Christmas Day, Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is handling the prosecution of former President Donald Trump in two federal prosecutions, was the victim of an attempted swatting at his Maryland residence.

According to two law enforcement officials, someone contacted 911 and reported that Smith had shot his wife at the home where Smith’s family resides.

When the Deputy U.S. Marshals defending Smith and his family informed authorities that the alarm had been false and that everyone inside the house was safe, Montgomery County authorities decided to cancel their dispatch of units to the scene, per NBC News.

Per a NBC news report, there have been no arrests made thus far regarding the incident.

What is ‘Swatting’ and why is it happening so often?

Swatting is the act of fabricating a crime report in order to draw law enforcement officials to a certain area.

This allows the perpetrator to distract the police and get away with some other criminal activity that has been preordained in another area.

Jack Smith is one of several well-known people who have recently fallen prey to a surge of swatting incidents.

In the months since he filed an indictment against Trump for the former president's alleged attempts to overturn his election defeat in 2020, Smith has received numerous threats on his life.

Soon after Trump started putting out 'inflammatory posts' against Smith, Smith's attorney Cecil VanDevender informed DC Circuit appeals court judges that Smith's office had 'been subject to multiple threats' and 'intimidating communication'.

More than $4.4 million was spent between April and September of last year on U.S. Marshals Service security for Smith and his staff, an official from the Justice Department told NBC News.

Special Counsel Smith is overseeing Trump's prosecution for the 2020 election interference case and the alleged mishandling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago home; both of which Trump has pleaded not guilty to.

The trial for the election interference case is set to commence on March 4, and the trial for the classified materials case is slated for May 20th, this year.

According to a report from The Hill, US Attorney General Merrick Garland condemned the spike in threats on Friday, saying, “These threats of violence are unacceptable. They threaten the fabric of our democracy.”

Internet fumes at the ever-increasing reports of swatting incidents

People on X (formerly Twitter) urged pertinent authorities and officials to look into curbing these disturbing incidents from happening ever again.

One X user remarked: "This getting crazy. The police need to start calling these homes and asking if there is trouble before they do this"

Another user said: "I've been having a hard time trying to find the Mind our World has Lost! A Trifecta! Sad! Sick! And Scary! That so many Americans can be so easily Bamboozled is akin to the possibility of having our very own JONESTOWN! Stay away from the ORANGE Cool-Aide! SERIOUSLY!"

Another user wrote: "These ‘swatting’ things really do need to stop. Enough is enough already. I hope everyone making these false calls to 911 are held accountable."

One user remarked: "Damn shame."

Finally, this X user tweeted: "Terrible Trump never gets swatted!"

 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.