Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and his spouse experienced a "swatting" incident on New Year’s when authorities received a false report using their residential address.
According to Paxton via X, the McKinney police and fire departments reacted to what they perceived as a potentially hazardous situation at their McKinney home. Eight squad cars, an ambulance and fire personnel were dispatched to the Paxtons' residence.
The couple was absent during the time and only learned of the report when a state trooper, informed by McKinney police, brought the incident to their attention. McKinney police told Local Profile an investigation is being conducted by the department with the assistance of the department of public safety.
“Making false reports to 911 is a crime which should be vigorously prosecuted when this criminal is identified,” Paxton said in the statement. “These fake calls divert resources from actual emergencies and crimes and could endanger our first responders. We are grateful for the bravery and professionalism of the men and women serving in the McKinney police and fire departments.”
Paxton said the swatting incident comes several weeks after the “disgraced Speaker of the House Dade Phelan, his lieutenants and the Dallas Morning News doxed our family by publicly posting [the] address.”
The attorney general ended the statement, saying, that despite his conservative views on border security, law enforcement’s time and effectiveness should not not be compromised.
According to Fox4, Paxton was not the only Republican to be targeted during the holiday season. Senator Rick Scott of Florida, Representative Marjorie Taylor-Greene of Georgia and Representative Brandon Williams of New York experienced similar incidents at their residences following the Christmas holiday.
Rep. Taylor-Green also took to X following the swatting, claiming the Christmas Day incident was the eighth occurrence. She wrote that she will introduce new legislation to “make sure perpetrators are tracked down and prosecuted.”
