Authorities confirmed they responded to a “swatting call” at the home of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett in Virginia on Wednesday night, an event that adds to the ongoing security concerns surrounding high-profile conservative figures.
A spokesperson for the Fairfax County Police Department stated that officers arrived at Barrett’s residence around 9:02 p.m. after a call from the non-emergency line. Upon arrival, they consulted the judge’s security team, who confirmed that the report was “fictitious.”
This incident follows a history of threats directed at the Supreme Court, particularly after a 2022 leak of a draft opinion that signaled the court’s intention to overturn Roe v. Wade. There have also been protests outside Barrett’s home and the arrest of a California man charged with attempted murder near Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s residence.
Fairfax police quickly determined that additional resources were unnecessary. They mentioned that swatting calls involve false reports of severe crimes—like shootings or bomb threats—that provoke a heavy police response.
Some recorded police communications surfaced on social media, indicating officers were responding to reported gunshots and were already monitoring “high-priority residents” in the area.
On Thursday morning, Barrett joined her colleagues and read summaries of two opinions she’d authored but did not address the recent incident.
Utah Republican Mike Lee commented on the situation, describing swatting as an attempt to endanger the lives of innocent individuals, highlighting the gravity of targeting a Supreme Court Justice and suggesting that those responsible should face significant legal consequences.
The context is troubling; since the leak of the draft opinion, protests have surged outside the residences of conservative justices. In June 2022, a man was apprehended near Kavanaugh’s home with weapons and charged with attempted murder after making threats against the justice.
There’s a noticeable rise in attacks against prominent conservative figures, a trend that was evident during the recent White House Correspondents’ dinner.
Earlier this year, there were also two assassination attempts on President Trump, the details of which indicate the escalating risks faced by political leaders. A veteran in California, known for his apparent support of Trump, was recently murdered in a violent incident at his home.
As of now, communications have been made to the Supreme Court regarding this disturbing turn of events.
