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House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) reported a swatting incident at his residence on Saturday, marking the latest in a series of similar pranks targeting U.S. elected officials.

Swatting, a dangerous prank involving false emergency calls to police, led to an unwarranted police response at Emmer’s home, as he shared on the social media platform X.

This prank has recently affected numerous members of Congress. The tactic involves making deceptive calls to law enforcement and reporting serious threats or violence to elicit a high-alert police response that potentially endangering the victim. Presidential candidate Nikki Haley, along with Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Brandon Williams (R-N.Y.), have also been subjected to such hoax calls.

None of these swatting incidents have resulted in physical harm. However, they highlight a growing concern over the use of this illegal and dangerous tactic against public figures.

In response to these incidents, Senators Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) introduced legislation aimed at intensifying penalties for those who orchestrate swatting pranks. Scott, who has himself been a victim of swatting, emphasized the bill’s intention to impose severe consequences on the perpetrators, referring to them as “cowards.”