Political Threats, Swatting, Violent Incidents Surge as 2024 Election Looms

Threats to politicians and other government officials have surged ahead of the 2024 election, with bomb threats and swatting incidents making headlines in recent weeks.

“I am really worried that there is going to be a tragedy,” Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Jill Karofsky told the Washington Post in a recent interview. “I believe people when they say that they want to hurt us or kill us. I don’t think they’re idle threats.”

The Post reports that figures who have opposed former President Donald Trump or not gone along with his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election have comprised a large portion of victims of harassment, threats and worse.

Former GOP Speaker of the Arizona State House Rusty Bowers is one such figure. He worked against Trump's attempts to overturn President Joe Biden's victory in the state and has faced harassment that culminated in a swatting incident at his home the day after Christmas.

A large number of officials were victims of swatting over the holidays, with law enforcement called to their homes under false pretenses in potentially dangerous pranks against the officials and their families.

The swatting calls crossed party lines and ranged from federal figures like Rep. Brandon Williams, R-N.Y., and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., to state and local, such as Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, D, and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, D.

Election officials have also been targeted, with envelopes laced with suspicious substances being sent to election officials' offices across the nation.

An increase in bomb threats against state houses and other government buildings also occurred in the last few months, causing capitols all over the country to be evacuated. Thus far, none have been caused by an actual bomb.