WASHINGTON, DC – In a concerning development, the residence of U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is presiding over the federal election subversion case against former President Donald Trump, was the target of a fake emergency call on Sunday night. This incident is part of a troubling trend involving false swatting reports at the homes of public officials in recent days.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, officers were dispatched to the Washington, D.C. home linked to Judge Chutkan after receiving a report of a shooting around 10 p.m. However, it was soon discovered that no shooting had taken place.
This is not the first time Judge Chutkan has faced threats. Since being assigned Trump’s case last year, she has been subjected to numerous threats. One example occurred in August when a Texas woman was arrested for calling the courthouse and threatening to kill Judge Chutkan and other officials. The suspect admitted to making the threatening call, as revealed in court documents.
Last week, state capitols and courthouses in multiple states were targeted with bomb threats, resulting in lockdowns and evacuations. However, these threats were later determined to be hoaxes by the FBI.
Attorney General Merrick Garland expressed deep concern about the increase in threats during a meeting with the top leaders of the Justice Department. He called the spike in violence “unacceptable” and emphasized that it poses a threat to the foundation of our democracy.
It is important to note that “swatting” refers to prank calls made to emergency services with the intention of causing a police response, often involving a SWAT team.
In summary, the false emergency call made to Judge Tanya Chutkan’s home is part of a series of similar incidents involving public officials. The threatening nature of these actions highlights the need for increased security measures to protect the individuals working within our justice system. Such threats not only jeopardize the safety of those in positions of authority but also undermine the foundations of our democracy.