Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley recently disclosed additional details about a distressing swatting incident that unfolded at her South Carolina residence during an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Despite being away from home at the time, Haley shared that her elderly parents, aged 87 and 90, and their caregiver were present in the house during the alarming incident.

Nikki Haley’s Home Was ‘Swatted’: REPORT https://t.co/pMgFZRDNCS

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) January 27, 2024

The comments

Expressing the gravity of the situation, Haley remarked, "The last thing you want is to see multiple law enforcement officials with guns drawn pointing at my parents and thinking that something happened. It was an awful situation."

The former South Carolina governor revealed that this wasn't the first time her home had been subjected to swatting, stating, "I think we've had it happen twice."

The swatting incident transpired last month at Haley's Kiawah Island residence.

An unidentified individual made a false report to 911, claiming to have shot a woman and expressing a risk of self-harm at Haley's home, according to town records reported by Reuters. This prompted law enforcement to respond to the fabricated emergency.

The emergency response

Kiawah Island Director of Public Safety, Craig Harris, detailed the incident in an email, confirming it as a hoax. The email did not provide information about a suspect or motive but affirmed that Nikki Haley was not on the island during the incident, and her son was with her at the time.

Haley used the opportunity to shed light on the broader issue of swatting incidents affecting political figures and members of the judiciary, emphasizing the disturbing trend in recent months.

She linked the rise in such incidents to the overall chaos prevailing in the country, particularly in the context of the approaching 2024 presidential election.

Other swatting incidents

In addition to Haley's revelation, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, a Republican from Minnesota, shared his family's encounter with a swatting incident in a post on X.

Emmer decried the "illegal abuse of police resources" involved in such schemes and condemned the incident as a dangerous act. He clarified that, fortunately, no one was at home or injured during the incident.

Both Haley and Emmer drew attention to the nationwide nature of these swatting incidents, indicating a concerning trend of utilizing such tactics to target elected officials.

The misuse of emergency services for false claims poses not only a direct threat to the safety of individuals involved but also underscores the broader challenges associated with the escalating political tensions leading up to the 2024 presidential election.