Texas AG Ken Paxton, Wife Targeted in ‘Swatting’ Attempt on New Year’s Day

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and his wife, state Senator Angela Paxton, assert they were the subjects of a swatting incident on January 1. The couple were not at home upon the arrival of law enforcement. The attorney general's assertion follows increasing occurrences of swatting in the U.S., where hoax calls mislead the police to send large quantities of armed personnel to a specified location. The FBI is investigating these instances which detract from police attending to actual offenses.

The couple disclosed to an online news outlet that an anonymous caller falsely reported a life-threatening situation at their McKinney home on New Year's Day. The McKinney Police and Fire Departments swiftly attended the perceived threat. The couple was not present during the incident and was informed about the hoax by a state trooper. The Paxtons emphasized that false 911 calls, which divert resources from genuine emergencies and risk first responders' safety, should be severely prosecuted once the perpetrator is apprehended. The couple thanked the McKinney police and fire departments for their courage and professionalism.

Uncertainty looms over whether any arrest has been made relating to the pretense call. The Epoch Times has reached out to the McKinney Police Department seeking further details. The legislator also alleged receiving death threats. Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Rep. Brandon Williams (R-N.Y.) reported similar fiction calls to their residences over Christmas, as did Boston's Democratic Mayor Michelle Wu. It remains unclear if these incidents are linked. The Georgia lawmaker proposed that individuals who misallocate crucial police resources away from real offenses should be subject to a life sentence at a minimum.