Jan. 6 Judge Targeted in SWAT Hoax, Spurring Warning on Threats

Shortly before midnight on July 21, police arrived at the home of a federal judge set to preside the next day over a plea hearing in Washington in a high-profile Jan. 6 prosecution.

In what law enforcement later described as a “swatting” incident, an unknown person had placed a call to an emergency services line pretending to be US District Judge Emmet Sullivan. The caller claimed a violent situation was unfolding at the judge’s home. Local police responded to the scene.

Judge Emmet G. Sullivan

Photographer: Dominic Bracco II/The Washington Post/Getty Images

The officers found no threat and no one was injured. They determined the call was a hoax, ...