Indiana lawmaker is the victim of swatting after Trump criticized him over redistricting

An Indiana state senator was the victim of a swatting incident Sunday just hours after President Donald Trump criticized him and other Republican lawmakers for not redrawing the state's congressional map, according to the lawmaker and the local sheriff.

Vigo County Sheriff Derek Fell said in a post on his office's Facebook account that an email was sent to a police department "advising harm had been done to persons inside a home," which was Goode's address.

"Attempts were initially unsuccessful to raise anyone at the residence, but ultimately contact was made with persons inside the home," the statement said. "All persons were secure, safe, and unharmed. Investigation showed that this was a prank or false email (also known as “swatting”)."

Swatting is a term for when someone makes a false report to law enforcement with the goal of intimidating or harassing victims with a police response.

Trump had blasted Goode, a Republican, alongside other Indiana politicians on his social media site Sunday morning for not pursuing redistricting efforts in the state to favor the GOP in next year’s midterm elections. On Friday, the state Senate Republican leader, Rodric Bray, announced that the chamber did not have enough support to move forward with redrawing the map.

Goode said in a statement that "Vigo County sheriff’s deputies responded to the incident under the impression of a domestic violence emergency," adding that the deputies "professionally fulfilled their duty."

"While this entire incident is unfortunate and reflective of the volatile nature of our current political environment, I give thanks to God that my family and I are ok," the senator said.

Goode also thanked the sheriff, the local police chief and first responders.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the swatting incident. In a post to Truth Social on Monday, Trump said he would "strongly" endorse against Indiana state lawmakers who do not support redistricting.

"We must keep the Majority at all costs," Trump said in the post. "Republicans must fight back!"

The sheriff said his office would investigate the swatting incident alongside federal authorities "with every intention of discovering who is responsible."

"A false or prank call of this nature will never be acceptable," Fell's statement said. "Not only do calls like this waste and reduce resources of deputies serving and protecting other parts of our county, they have a negative impact on the victim and their families as well."

Reached for comment after Trump criticized Goode and Indiana Republicans but before the swatting incident on Sunday, Goode's spokesperson, Lance Gideon, said the state senator has said he "would not take a public stance unless and until he saw an officially introduced map and legislation on the floor of the State Senate."

"He respectfully maintains that position," Gideon said.

U.S. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., condemned the swatting in a post to X, saying, "What happened to Senator Goode and his family last night was shameful and cowardly."

"This was a serious situation, and I am grateful that no one was injured and for the professionalism of law enforcement," Young said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com