Thursday, March 20, 2025

DHS Vows To Find Perps Who Are 'Swatting' Media


Kristi Noem, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary under President Donald Trump’s administration, made a strong public statement vowing to pursue and prosecute individuals responsible for a recent wave of swatting incidents targeting conservative media figures.

Swatting, a dangerous hoax where false emergency calls prompt armed police responses to unsuspecting victims’ homes, has surged in recent weeks, with notable conservative influencers, radio hosts, and podcasters reporting such attacks. 

Noem’s announcement came amid growing concern over these incidents, which have included high-profile cases like that of radio host Joe "Pags" Pagliarulo, who was woken at 2 a.m. by armed deputies at his Texas home, and InfoWars host Owen Shroyer, swatted early on March 19. 

Other affected figures include podcaster Nick Sortor, host Shawn Farash, and influencer Gunther Eagleman, with some reporting multiple incidents within days. 

The attacks have raised alarms due to their potential to endanger lives—both of the targets and responding officers—and their apparent political targeting of conservative voices. In a post on X, Noem declared, “Under President Trump’s leadership, we will not sit idly by as conservative new[s] media and their families are being targeted by false swatting.” 

She emphasized DHS’s technological capabilities, stating, “DHS has the ability to trace phone numbers and track location information. We will use it to hunt these cowards down.” 

She framed swatting as “an attack on our law enforcement and innocent families,” promising aggressive prosecution. Her rhetoric aligns with the Trump administration’s broader stance against perceived threats to its supporters, echoing sentiments from FBI Director Kash Patel, who days earlier vowed to crack down on the same trend, calling it “morally reprehensible” and a danger to all Americans, not just a political issue. 

The backdrop to Noem’s pledge is a series of swatting incidents that began escalating in mid-March 2025, with at least ten reported on March 13 alone, according to FBI statements. Victims have described harrowing experiences—Pagliarulo noted he nearly confronted police with his own firearm, risking a deadly outcome, while Sortor called it “attempted murder” after a caller falsely claimed his father was killing his family. 

The timing, shortly after Trump’s inauguration and the appointment of new agency heads like Noem and Patel, suggests a possible reaction to the shifting political landscape. Noem’s response has drawn support from conservative circles, with X posts praising her resolve, such as one calling it a “bold stance” against “online harassment and threats.” 

However, it also enters a contentious arena, as swatting has historically crossed political lines—previous incidents have targeted figures like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and even judges in Trump-related cases—yet this wave appears focused on conservative media. 


The DHS, under Noem’s leadership since January 2025, is now mobilizing alongside the FBI, which has been tracking swatting nationally since 2023, to address what some label “political terrorism.” As of March 20, 2025, no arrests have been publicized, but Noem’s vow signals a high-priority federal response.
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