Swatting Attack on Indiana Lawmaker
An Indiana lawmaker fell victim to a swatting attack just hours after President Trump criticized him regarding the stalled redistricting efforts by Republicans, according to authorities.
Officials reported that the Terre Haute police received an alarming email around 5 p.m. on Sunday, claiming that “harm had been done to persons inside the home” of State Senator Greg Goode.
The Vigo County Sheriff’s Office promptly dispatched deputies for a wellness check at the residence, where they found no signs of trouble.
“All individuals were secure, safe, and unharmed. The investigation revealed this was a prank or false email (commonly referred to as ‘swatting’). Such false reports will never be tolerated,” stated Sheriff Derek Bell in a press release on Sunday night.
Senator Goode, a Republican, mentioned in his statement that deputies responded following a report of a “domestic violence emergency” at his home.
“While this entire incident is unfortunate and indicative of the volatile nature of our current political climate, I am grateful that my family and I are safe,” he expressed.
The sheriff noted that federal authorities are assisting in uncovering the identity of those responsible for the swatting attack.
Both Senator Goode and Senate President Pro Tempore Rod Bray faced sharp criticism from President Trump in a post on Truth Social earlier that day. The president urged for their primary challenges due to their perceived lack of interest in redistricting.
“Because of these two politically correct type ‘gentlemen,’ and others, they could be depriving Republicans of a Majority in the House, which is significant!”
While Senator Goode has not publicly shared his stance on redistricting, he recently held a town hall meeting where over 70 constituents voiced their opposition to the initiative with no supporters speaking up.
The president’s lengthy post also criticized Republican Governor Mike Braun for failing to rally support for redistricting efforts that have become contentious between parties.
“The Indiana State Senate is hiding behind closed doors and refusing to even bring redistricting to a vote,”
Indiana currently has a 7-2 split between Republican and Democratic representatives in Congress. The Trump administration aims for state lawmakers to eliminate Democratic districts similar to strategies employed by some blue states against Republican seats.
