In a disturbing trend targeting prominent conservative figures, FBI Director Kash Patel has become the latest victim of "swatting," a dangerous hoax that involves making false emergency calls to dispatch armed law enforcement to an individual's home.
Patel revealed this alarming incident during an appearance on "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast, which was released on Spotify.
During the podcast, Patel expressed his frustration with the situation, stating, "As director of the FBI, I have a responsibility: Im not just going to bring a case because somebody hurt me," before adding, "they did." He further elaborated on the ongoing nature of these attacks, saying, "And they continue to do it. S***, my house just got swatted yesterday."
Host Joe Rogan was visibly shocked, asking, "The head of the FBI gets swatted?" to which Patel responded, "Yeah. These people play its the ultimate height of hypocrisy." He criticized the double standards, noting, "They have two sets of rules: One against you, one for them. And what I want to do is lay out that entire body of work for the American people with Congress."
According to Western Journal, the FBI did not provide a comment to Fox News regarding the incident. However, KLAS-TV in Las Vegas reported that a swatting call was made to Patel's Las Vegas residence at 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday.
The caller falsely claimed an active crime was occurring at the home. Fortunately, law enforcement was able to verify the call's falsity before dispatching officers to the scene.
Swatting has emerged as a particularly insidious crime, frequently targeting conservatives. This tactic not only wastes valuable law enforcement resources but also poses significant risks to the safety of those targeted and the responding officers. In March, Patel had already signaled his intent to address this issue, emphasizing his commitment to collaborating with local law enforcement to combat such crimes.
In a March 14 post on X, Patel declared, "This isnt about politics weaponizing law enforcement against ANY American is not only morally reprehensible but also endangers lives, including those of our officers. That will not be tolerated."
Despite these efforts, as of Saturday morning, there have been no public announcements regarding suspects or active leads in the case. The lack of progress highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in tackling this modern form of harassment.
The rise of swatting incidents underscores a broader societal issue where political differences are increasingly manifesting in dangerous and unlawful actions. It is imperative that those responsible are held accountable to deter future occurrences and ensure the safety of all citizens, regardless of their political affiliations.
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