FBI Intensifies Investigation into Swatting Incidents Targeting Social Media Influencers

Washington, D.C. – March 28, 2025 – After roughly two weeks, recent developments suggest the FBI is making headway - On March 24, Nick Sortor posted on X that the agency was “closing in on a group behind the mass swatting of conservatives,” citing sources indicating that actionable leads had emerged. “Dan Bongino was not just tweeting. Kash is not just talking - they’re already getting results,” Sortor wrote, referencing the involvement of conservative commentator Dan Bongino, who has been vocal about the issue. While the FBI has not officially confirmed Sortor’s claim, the agency’s silence on specifics aligns with standard protocol for ongoing investigations, leaving room for speculation about the scope and nature of the perpetrators.

The swatting incidents have taken a significant toll on victims, their families, and responding officers. For many influencers, the experience has been both terrifying and galvanizing. Matt Van Swol, an activist with over 198,000 X followers, shared a chilling account of a March incident in North Carolina, where police, fire trucks, and ambulances descended on his home at 2 a.m. following a false report that he had murdered his wife. His wife, Derham, answered the door in pajamas, defusing the situation, but the couple later learned that the responding officer was deeply shaken by the potential for unintended harm. “He could have hurt me or my children,” Derham told CNN, highlighting the emotional aftermath for all involved.

Larry Taunton, host of the “Ideas Have Consequences” podcast, narrowly avoided a violent outcome when police arrived at his Alabama home earlier this month. Alerted by his dog’s agitation, Taunton approached his door with a Glock pistol, only to recognize the glint of a police badge in time to stand down. “Good sense from police and good trigger discipline on both parts kept this from turning into a tragedy,” he said. Such close calls underscore the inherent danger of swatting, which has claimed lives in the past. In 2020, a Tennessee man suffered a fatal heart attack during a swatting response, and in 2017, a Kansas man was killed by police after a hoax call escalated into a shooting.

Beyond the immediate risks, the incidents have raised questions about political polarization and the weaponization of online harassment. While the majority of reported targets in this wave have been conservative, some Democratic supporters have also claimed to be victims, suggesting a broader trend that transcends ideology. Owen Shroyer, an Infowars host pardoned after January 6-related charges, emphasized a unifying stance after being swatted in Austin, Texas. “If it starts happening to liberals or Democrats, I’m going to stand up just as loudly for them,” he said in a video posted on March 19.

The surge in swatting has prompted calls for stronger legal deterrents. On March 19, Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement Chairman Clay Higgins (R-La.) announced an investigation into the incidents, requesting a briefing from the DOJ and FBI by April 9 to assess their response to “politically motivated swatting.” In Texas, Representative Brandon Gill co-sponsored the Preserving Safe Communities by Ending Swatting Act, a bill introduced in January that aims to impose harsher penalties on swatters. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has gone further, suggesting on March 13 that swatting should be prosecuted as attempted murder due to the “grave risk” it poses to innocent lives.

Investigating swatting, however, remains a complex task. Perpetrators often use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services to disguise their locations, and artificial intelligence can alter voices, complicating efforts to trace calls. The FBI’s experience with past cases—such as the 2019 conviction of a California man sentenced to 20 years for a fatal swatting—demonstrates that successful prosecutions are possible, but they require meticulous coordination with local agencies and advanced forensic tools. The agency’s recent creation of a swatting database, which tracked over 500 incidents in an eight-month period last year, reflects a growing commitment to tackling the issue systematically.

As of March 28, 2025, the FBI has not announced any arrests in connection with the latest swatting wave, but the investigation appears to be gaining momentum. Posts on X from affected influencers suggest optimism that justice is near, with some claiming that prior swatters linked to earlier incidents targeting “Catturd” are already incarcerated, setting a precedent for accountability. The involvement of both the FBI and DHS, coupled with legislative pressure, signals a robust response to what Patel has called a “dangerous trend.”

For the influencers caught in the crosshairs, the experience has only strengthened their resolve. “To the person/entity swatting people, you are not changing hearts and minds by doing this,” Van Swol posted on X. “If the goal is to frighten people into silence, that won’t work.” As the investigation unfolds, the nation watches closely, aware that the outcome could shape the future of online safety, political discourse, and the delicate balance between free expression and public security. 17GEN4.com