Former South Carolina governor and 2024 Republican presidential candidate, Nikki Haley, experienced a second "swatting" attempt on New Year's Day, just two days after the authorities responded to a similar incident, as reported by Reuters.
In this latest incident, a caller, identifying herself as Rose, claimed that Haley's daughter had been shot and was lying in a pool of blood. The caller also alleged that Haley was on the phone, threatening to shoot herself. Law enforcement responded promptly, discovering that the call was a hoax.
Details from an incident report obtained by Reuters reveal that this was the second swatting attempt against Haley. The first occurred on December 30 at her home in Kiawah Island, South Carolina, where a false threat prompted a response from law enforcement. Haley, who was not present during the first incident, called it an "awful situation," emphasizing the danger it posed to law enforcement officers and her family.
Haley expressed her concerns about the toll such incidents take on her family, stating, "That's what happens when you run for president. What I don't want is for my kids to live like this."
This disturbing trend extends beyond Haley, as other high-profile politicians, including Florida Senator Rick Scott, New York Congressman Brandon Williams, and Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, have also been targeted by swatting calls.
The US Attorney General, Merrick Garland, has denounced the "deeply disturbing spike" in threats against public officials. He emphasized that such threats are unacceptable and pose a threat to the fabric of democracy.