Holiday week "swatting" incidents target and disrupt members of Congress

Before the Cayuga County, New York sheriff's deputies finally left his house, Republican Rep. Brandon Williams of New York handed them small bags filled with holiday shortbread cookies, chocolate-dipped peanut butter balls and double-chocolate cookies covered in powdered sugar after the unexpected, brief Christmas Day drama had ended.

Williams, a first-term Republican who represents Central New York, said he was the victim of a "swatting" call early in the afternoon on Dec. 25h. Williams said someone placed a hoax phone call to police in Auburn, New York, to trigger a massive police response at his rural home. Law enforcement officials, recognizing his address, called in advance to alert Williams they had received an emergency alert claiming there was a crisis at his home. He said deputies quickly realized the call was a hoax, but only after the swatting incident had disrupted his family holiday.  Williams suspects it could be the work of critics of some of his political stances or recent statements denouncing Hamas.

At least three members of Congress reported being the victims of "swatting incidents" over the holiday week, according to a review by CBS News. Other members of Congress, from both parties, have also experienced some form of disruption by such phony and harassing swatting calls over the past several weeks.