Indiana lawmaker faces swatting incident after Trump criticism
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Demonstrators during a rally against redistricting at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Sept. 18. Photo: Kaiti Sullivan/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Indiana state Sen. Greg Goode was targeted in a "swatting" incident Sunday, hours after President Trump slammed him by name for not pursuing redistricting efforts the White House sought.
The big picture: Lawmakers have aired bipartisan concern over the rise in political threats and violence. Trump has largely blamed the political left, while critics say his rhetoric has fueled hostility.
- Police did not reveal a motive for the incident and said they were working with federal authorities to determine who was behind it.
- The incident comes after former staunch MAGA ally Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) warned Trump's language could "radicalize people against" her. He publicly severed their relationship and has attacked her with personal insults.
Driving the news: The Vigo County Sheriff's Office said Sunday evening that the Terre Haute Police Department received an email claiming "harm had been done to persons" inside Goode's home. The message was false and deemed a swatting attempt.
- Indiana Sen. Greg Goode said in a statement Sunday that deputies responded "under the impression of a domestic violence emergency" and "professionally fulfilled their duty."
- He continued, "While this entire incident is unfortunate and reflective of the volatile nature of our current political environment, I give thanks to God that my family and I are ok."
What they're saying: The White House did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment on Monday, but the president weighed in on Truth Social.
- "I will be strongly endorsing against any State Senator or House member from the Great State of Indiana that votes against the Republican Party, and our Nation, by not allowing for Redistricting for Congressional seats in the United States House of Representatives," Trump wrote.
Zoom out: On Sunday, Greene said she, her family and her company had also been targeted with threats and hoaxes after Trump unloaded a swath of insults directed at her online, calling her a traitor and a lunatic.
- She wrote on X, "President Trump's unwarranted and vicious attacks against me were a dog whistle to dangerous radicals that could lead to serious attacks on me and my family."
- The president dismissed her again and called her a traitor Sunday night, saying she was "working overtime to try and portray herself as a victim when, in actuality, she is the cause of all of her own problems."
Catch up quick: Goode was one of two lawmakers Trump painted as "RINO Senators" that he said could deprive "Republicans of a Majority in the House" by not capitulating to his pressure to redraw the state's map.
- Indiana handed Trump his latest setback in his drive to lock in a GOP House majority through redistricting.
- Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray announced last week that Senate Republicans had "given very serious and thoughtful consideration to the concept of redrawing our state's congressional maps" — but said they didn't have the votes.
Go deeper: The national redistricting wars enter a new phase
Editor's note: This story was updated with a new comment from Trump on Truth Social.
