Trump election case judge targeted in ‘swatting’ incident

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The federal judge overseeing Donald Trump’s election interference case and the prosecutor who brought it before the court both appear been targeted by “swatting” incidents at their respective homes.

Police and fire trucks arrived at Judge Tanya Chutkan’s home after false reports of a shooting on Sunday night, reported NBC News.

A police report obtained by the outlet states that officers with the Metropolitan Police Department responded to a call at around 10pm and that the judge, who was not named in the report, was at home when they arrived on the scene.

The unnamed resident told officers that she “was not injured and that there was no one in her home.”

A police spokesperson told NBC News that the department had “determined no shooting took place.”

A “swatting” typically involves a fake emergency call to 911 operators that can lead to heavily armed and armoured law enforcement teams being dispatched.

It is the latest swatting incident to take place in recent weeks, with the Maine secretary of state who blocked Mr Trump from the 2024 primary ballot also targeted.

On Monday NBC reported that special counsel Jack Smith, who is overseeing the prosecution of Mr Trump over election interference and his handling of classified documents, was swatted at his Maryland home on Christmas day

Police were reportedly told that Mr Smith had shot his wife, only to be called off when US Marshals protecting the residence assured them that it was a false alarm.

Police and fire trucks arrived at Judge Tanya Chutkan’s home after false reports of a shooting on Sunday night

Ms Chutkan is the judge overseeing Mr Smith’s federal case brought by Mr Smith against the former president, and has already been targeted by Mr Trump on social media and faced threats from his fans.

Texas woman Abigail Jo Shry, 43, was arrested and charged in August 2023 with transmitting a threat to injure a person via interstate commerce.

An affidavit in the case states that she allegedly called the judge on 5 August and left a “threatening voicemail message” for her.

“Hey you stupid slave,” prosecutors say that Ms Shry said before referring to the judge using the N-word.

“You are in our sights, we want to kill you. … If Trump doesn’t get elected in 2024, we are coming to kill you, so tread lightly, b——,” the message allegedly continued.

“You will be targeted personally, publicly, your family, all of it.”

Mr Trump’s trial is set to start in March unless the US Supreme Court rules on an immunity claim made by the Republican.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges against him during a court appearance in August.

This story was updated at 9:12pm on 8 January 2023 to add details of an additional swatting event against special prosecutor Jack Smith.