WASHINGTON ― On Wednesday, Donald Trump’s transition team announced that several of his Cabinet nominees received violent threats recently, prompting a response from law enforcement officials.

The threats were reported on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, and included bomb threats along with incidents of swatting, according to Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt. Swatting is when someone makes a false report of an emergency to dispatch police to a non-existent crisis.

“Authorities acted swiftly to protect those who were threatened,” Leavitt stated. “President Trump and the entire Transition team appreciate their prompt response.”

In a reply to YSL News, an FBI representative confirmed that the bureau is currently investigating “multiple bomb threats and swatting events” aimed at nominees and appointees of the incoming administration.

“We’re collaborating with law enforcement partners and take all potential threats very seriously. We urge the public to report any suspicious activity immediately,” they added.

When YSL News asked about the identity of those responsible for the threats, a senior official from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, did not provide any details.

Rep. Elise Stefanik, a Republican from New York, was among those facing threats. According to her office, she and her family learned of the bomb threat while driving home to New York for Thanksgiving.

New York law enforcement and U.S. Capitol Police took immediate action in response to the threat, as reported by Stefanik’s office.

Increase in swatting incidents during the 2024 election

The FBI describes swatting as a prank intended to provoke a swift law enforcement response to a fabricated situation, often resulting in armed police units arriving for a potential altercation.

Federal cybersecurity officials noted a marked rise in swatting cases leading up to the 2024 presidential election, particularly incidents that targeted election personnel and polling venues to disrupt the democratic process.

In May 2024, the FBI, along with the Department of Homeland Security and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), issued a joint alert concerning the threats to elections, highlighting several swatting occurrences aimed at election workers in late 2023 and early 2024. Federal representatives explained that the rate of such attacks surged in the weeks preceding the election and on election day itself.

“Both foreign and domestic actors are utilizing swatting as a means to intimidate or harass various individuals and organizations, including government officials, religious groups, schools, journalists, corporate leaders, and celebrities,” the agencies stated in their May 2024 alert, which also included suggestions for election workers and law enforcement on preventing and addressing swatting activities.