Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett's residence in Virginia was the target of a swatting call on Wednesday night, according to police reports. Audio from the incident, obtained by journalist Andrew Leyden, includes a dispatcher relaying a report of gunshots, while also indicating the possibility of it being a swatting attempt. Swatting involves falsely reporting a violent crime to provoke a police response.
The dispatcher noted that the call came from a number associated with a 'high-priority resident' in Fairfax County, and that they were unable to reach the caller for confirmation. An officer on the scene communicated with Barrett's security detail, confirming that they had not heard any unusual noises.
Fairfax police stated that officers responded to the call at approximately 9:02 p.m. and coordinated with Supreme Court Police personnel. They quickly determined that the report was unfounded and no additional police resources were needed. The police have not reported any arrests related to the incident.
Swatting is illegal and can result in fines and imprisonment. Barrett, who is 54 years old, was appointed to the Supreme Court by former President Donald Trump. In recent months, Trump has publicly criticized Barrett and fellow appointee Neil Gorsuch for their judicial decisions, labeling them as disloyal.