Judge Engoron’s Swatting Incident: An Outline of the Events
Swatting is a malicious prank that involves calling the police and falsely reporting a severe crime at someone’s address, hoping to trigger a SWAT team raid. This action is not only a waste of resources and a danger to the victims but also a potential threat to the justice system.
Unfortunately, that happened to Judge Arthur Engoron, who is in charge of a civil fraud trial against former President Donald Trump. Essentially, someone called the police and claimed that there was a bomb at his home, forcing him and his family to evacuate.
This post will examine the details of this shocking incident, the possible motives and suspects behind it, and other necessary information. Read on!
The Swatting of Judge Arthur Engoron
Judge Arthur Engoron was Swatted on Thursday, January 11, 2024, around 6:30 a.m., when an anonymous caller told the police that there was a bomb at his home in Nassau County, near New York City.
The caller used a fake number and a voice changer to disguise their identity; nevertheless, the police responded with many officers, bomb squad technicians, and canine units.
Upon reaching the premises, they evacuated Engoron and his family from their residence and began searching the premises. Fortunately, the swat team found no explosives or suspicious devices, leading them to declare the report a hoax by 6:45 a.m.
Who is Judge Arthur Engoron?
Arthur Engoron is the judge presiding over a civil fraud trial against former President Donald Trump. He is accused of inflating his assets in financial documents to obtain loans and tax benefits.
The trial, which began in December 2023, was brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, seeking $370 million in penalties and a ban on Trump from doing business in New York again.
The swatting incident happened the same day as the trial’s closing arguments, which were delayed by an hour due to a security issue.
During the trial, Trump has repeatedly attacked Engoron on his social media platform Truth Social, calling him a “Trump-hating judge” who is working with James to “screw me” and accusing him of presiding over a “rigged and unfair trial.”
Trump also accused Engoron of having his agenda and claimed that he was a victim of “persecution.” Nevertheless, Engoron, who was appointed by former Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2012, has dismissed Trump’s allegations and has tried to maintain decorum in the courtroom.
Possible Motive(s) Behind the Swatting of Judge Engoron
Swatting Judge Engoron is part of a disturbing trend of increasing threats and violence against judges and other public officials, especially those involved in cases related to Trump. In recent weeks, two other judges overseeing criminal cases against Trump, Tanya Chutkan and Jack Smith, faced swatting incidents.
Additionally, three members of Congress, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Shenna Bellows and Rick Scott, have also received swatting calls for their political positions. Attorney General Merrick Garland has described swatting as “deeply disturbing” and has vowed to prosecute those responsible for such acts of terror and disruption.
The motive and the identity of the swatter who targeted Engoron are still unknown. Still, the police are investigating the incident and are looking for any leads that could help them find the culprit. When found, the swatter could face both federal and state charges, as well as civil lawsuits from Engoron and his family.
About The Donald Trump Civil Fraud Trial
The New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against former President Donald Trump, his two eldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, and the Trump Organization.
The lawsuit accuses them of inflating their assets in financial documents to obtain loans and tax benefits. It seeks $370 million in penalties and a ban on Trump from doing business in New York again.
The trial began in December 2023 and ended on January 11, 2024, with closing arguments from both sides. Trump attended the trial and testified on the stand, where he denied any wrongdoing and attacked the judge and the attorney general as part of a “political witch hunt” against him.
However, The judge, Arthur Engoron, dismissed Trump’s allegations and tried to maintain order and decorum in the courtroom. Unfortunately, on the same day as the closing arguments, Engoron received a false bomb threat at his home, which the police later declared a hoax.
This hoax delayed the verdict or the trial; nevertheless, Engoron said he aims to have a final decision by the end of January 2024. The trial outcome could have significant implications for Trump’s political future, as he is also facing other legal issues like the Colorado Supreme Court banning Trump from the 2024 ballot.
The Danger of Swatting and Its Penalty
Swatting is a type of harassment that involves making a false report of a serious crime to the police, hoping to send a SWAT team to raid someone’s home. This action is dangerous because it can lead to violent confrontations, injuries, or even deaths of the victims, the police, or innocent bystanders.
It is also a waste of resources and a threat to the justice system; therefore, it is illegal and punishable with up to 20 years in prison under federal law and up to 15 years under state law.
Swatting has become a common phenomenon in recent years, mainly targeting celebrities, politicians, and online gamers. Some motives behind swatting are pranks, revenge, intimidation, or risky entertainment.
These false reports have also increased in frequency and severity during the 2024 political season, as swatters have targeted several public officials from both parties for their political positions or actions.
The FBI and the Attorney General understand the severity of this issue and have vowed to prosecute those responsible.
Conclusion
While swatting can have dangerous outcomes, the judge and his family are safe with zero adverse effects from the false report. Some speculate that the swatter aimed to disrupt the trial against Trump, while others believe it’s an indirect way to harass the judge.
For now, there’s an ongoing investigation to find the caller and bring them to justice for the false report. In the meantime, the trial against Trump will continue as Judge Engoron gives his verdict at the end of January.