The Southampton Village residence of globalist billionaire George Soros was reportedly targeted by a “swatting” hoax on Saturday, making the 93-year-old leftist activist the latest in a series of high-profile individuals to fall victim to the potentially deadly criminal prank.
Just before 9 p.m. on December 30th, police in Southampton, New York responded to reports of a murder-suicide in progress at Soros’ mansion on Old Town Road. Officers rushed to the scene, but Southampton Police Detective Sgt. Herman Lamison announced on Monday that the situation was quickly found to be a hoax.
“Spoke to security, searched the premises. It was [a] negative problem,” officers on the scene reported, according to the New York Post.
It is unknown whether George Soros or his family members were home at the time of the incident…although given the billionaire’s aggressive anti-police stance and soft-on-crime sensibilities, he likely would have felt uncomfortable around so many officers anyway.
This incident makes Soros the latest in a series of more than a dozen high-profile figures targeted by a swatting attempt between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
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“Swatting” refers to a sinister, sometimes fatal, harassment tactic in which fraudulent phone calls are made to police, anonymously reporting bomb threats, active shooters, hostage situations, or other violent crimes at a given address. The goal of these prank calls is to have a heavily armed SWAT team arrive on the scene, disrupting, intimidating, or even killing the unsuspecting residents.
The anonymous callers behind these calls can be difficult to identify, but the recent uptick in swatting hoaxes has renewed calls for harsher penalties for the perpetrators.
This string of holiday season swattings began on Christmas Day, when Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) was targeted at her family home in Rome, Georgia, in what she describes as “like the eighth time” this has happened. The call, which was placed to a suicide hotline with the New York-based caller reporting a murder-suicide at Greene’s home, was canceled once the congresswoman’s security team got in touch with police.
I was just swatted.
This is like the 8th time.
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!
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) December 25, 2023
Greene also reported that her adult daughters had likewise been targeted, and she called on the FBI to investigate the harassment. The following week, she announced forthcoming legislation to implement harsher penalties for would-be swatters.
Both my daughter’s houses just got swatted today.
Big thanks to the police who responded! We appreciate you and support you!
Whoever is doing this, you are going to get caught and it won’t be funny to you anymore.@FBI
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) December 28, 2023
At the same time, conservative commentator Jack Posobiec and his family were swatted twice following reports of an active shooter at his home.
They told the officers that I had shot my wife and sons in the kitchen
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) December 25, 2023
The Christmas festivities of New York Republican Rep. Brandon Williams were similarly interrupted by police, although law enforcement dispatchers recognized the address of his rural Auburn home and notified the family in advance. Williams reported that the responding officers left with “homemade cookies and spiced nuts” as a thank-you for their efforts.
Our home was swatted this afternoon. Thanks to the Deputies and Troopers who contacted me before arriving.
They left with homemade cookies and spiced nuts! Merry Christmas everyone! pic.twitter.com/uQ2xkzLVJ6
— Rep. Brandon Williams (@RepWilliams) December 25, 2023
In the following weeks leading up to New Year’s Eve, multiple other prominent figures fell victim to swatting hoaxes, including:
- Boston Mayor Michelle Wu (D), who recently came under fire for hosting a Christmas party for exclusively non-White city councilors,
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s home is ‘swatted’ on Christmas Day by caller claiming man shot wife inside — just weeks after holding ‘Electeds of Color Holiday Party’ https://t.co/svIPB78jLB pic.twitter.com/Ou9OBIG59J
— New York Post (@nypost) December 27, 2023
- Florida Senator Rick Scott (R), who was out to dinner with his wife when the caller reported an active shooter,
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
- Georgia Lt. Governor Burt Jones (R), who was targeted by a bomb threat at his home, followed by another threat at his office the next day,
Last night, my home was “swatted”. This morning, a bomb threat was called to my office. Thankfully everyone is safe, and I commend our local law enforcement officers for their professionalism. Let me be clear — I will not be intimidated by those attempting to silence me. We will…
— Burt Jones (@burtjonesforga) December 28, 2023
- John Paul Mac Isaac, the Delaware computer repairman who first leaked the contents of Hunter Biden’s laptop,
My home was swatted tonight, I was not home but the outstanding men and women of the Wilmington PD responded quickly and professionally. All that was achieved was the wasted time of the Wilmington PD.
NOTHING, let me repeat that, NOTHING will take me out of this fight! Cheers!— John Paul Mac Isaac (@JPMacIsaac) December 30, 2023
- and Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who was doxed and swatted after removing former President Donald Trump from her state’s primary ballot.
Many of you have asked if Brandon and I are safe. We are. Please see my personal Facebook post here. https://t.co/W0fTMizovn
— Shenna Bellows (@shennabellows) December 30, 2023
On New Year’s Day, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), who recently beat a Democratic-led impeachment effort, also reported a swatting attempt connected to a doxing effort by political opponents.
On New Year’s Day, a currently unidentified caller made a false report to 911 describing a life-threatening situation at our home in McKinney. As a result, the City of McKinney Police and Fire Departments quickly and bravely responded to what they believed could be a dangerous…
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) January 3, 2024
Various authorities, including Capitol police, local law enforcement, and the FBI have launched investigations into these respective incidents. Most of the hoaxes are not believed to be connected, but when taken together, they have strengthened calls for more meaningful consequences for future crimes of this nature.
Connor Walcott is a staff writer covering politics, culture, and business for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X (Twitter).
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