GOP Sens. Spencer Deery, Dan Dernulc and Rick Niemeyer are the latest victims of attempted swattings as early redistricting supporters turn up the heat on opponents and undecided lawmakers. Photo from Indiana Senate Republicans.

By Leslie Bonilla Muñiz
Indiana Capital Chronicle

INDIANAPOLIS — As redistricting rhetoric intensifies in Indiana, at least four Republican lawmakers who oppose the prospect – or are undecided –  have reported attempted swatting attacks on their homes.

“It is disturbing that anyone would attempt to harm or intimidate lawmakers, but sadly not all that surprising in the current environment,” Sen. Spencer Deery said Thursday, Nov. 20, after police “thwarted” an attempt at his West Lafayette residence.

“Swatting” involves hoax calls or reports to emergency services intended to trigger armed responses – and can have lethal consequences for unwitting victims at the swatted location.

The Indiana State Police is working with law enforcement at the local and federal levels to investigate “multiple instances” of swatting targeting lawmakers, according to a Thursday news release. The agency plans to seek criminal prosecution “to the fullest extent allowed by law.”

Deery, a vocal opponent of early congressional redistricting, was notified about 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 20 that police dispatch had received a report of domestic abuse at his address. It included a threat of violence to officers who responded.

String Of Hoaxes Sparked By Map Fight

Deery is at least the fourth Indiana Republican senator to face swatting threats in the frenzy for new maps.

A fifth, Sen. Kyle Walker of Lawrence, said Thursday that “attempts have been made to intimidate me and threaten violence at my home,” but didn’t specifically identify those as swatting. A spokesperson didn’t immediately respond to a request for clarification.

Republican supermajorities drew the current congressional boundaries in 2021, with a 7-2 GOP majority. Two blue districts cover northwest Indiana and Indianapolis. A refresh isn’t due until 2030.

But Pres. Donald Trump and his supporters want Indiana to produce a 9-0 map ahead of the 2026 midterm elections as part of his push to keep GOP control over the U.S. House.

Trump has ratcheted up the pressure, telling Gov. Mike Braun on Tuesday, Nov. 18 that he “must produce” on redistricting. That day, Braun proclaimed he’d find ways to “compel” recalcitrant senators to obey his special session call after they voted to ignore it and adjourn.

Two other GOP lawmakers – Sen. Rick Niemeyer of Lowell and Sen. Dan Dernulc of Highland – were the targets of foiled swatting attempts on Wednesday, Nov. 19.

Secretary of State Diego Morales and Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith pose for a photo with supporters of redistricting on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at the Indiana Statehouse. Photo by Casey Smith, Indiana Capital Chronicle.

“Sen. Niemeyer worked with local law enforcement to deal with the situation, and everyone involved is fine,” spokeswoman Emma Balzer said in a Thursday statement to the Capital Chronicle.

Niemeyer was one of five Senate Republicans called out as anti-redistricting in a widely circulated social media post. But he hasn’t made a decision on how he’ll vote.

“Right now, we don’t even have a bill,” he told the Capital Chronicle earlier this week. “… I’m going to vote when I see what I need to look at … but there’s nothing there right now.”

Other Undecided Lawmakers Baited; Braun Denounces

Dernulc, who was targeted the same day, praised local law enforcement for being “quick to analyze it, recognize the report was false and inform me of the attempt.”

He hasn’t made a decision on redistricting either, telling the Capital Chronicle earlier this week it’s “because I haven’t even seen a map.”

“Until I see something, I don’t want it being like (Democratic former U.S. House Speaker) Nancy Pelosi, where they say you have to vote for something and then find out,” Dernulc said at the time.

Later, he called Wednesday’s swatting attempt “scary and shocking.”

Hoosiers, including self-identified Republicans, protest mid-cycle redistricting at the Indiana Statehouse on Friday, Oct. 10. hoto by Leslie Bonilla Muñiz, Indiana Capital Chronicle.

“I have always done my best to serve my community, be their voice, and work … to help make Indiana a great state,” Dernulc’s statement continued. “It is sad because of these efforts and work that I am villainized in some minds to the point of harmful retaliation. Threats to public officials cannot and should not be the norm. I hope to see justice for this illegal behavior.”

The first to report a swatting attempt was Republican Sen. Greg Goode of Terre Haute, on Sunday. It came hours after Trump called him out by name as a “RINO,” or “Republican in name only,” in a post to Truth Social.

Braun denounced the attempts as “absolutely terrible” on Thursday, telling reporters, “That’s way beyond the pale. Unacceptable. … All I’m saying as governor, leader of the state: stop it.”

Asked if he thought aggressive rhetoric had contributed, Braun responded that there’s “rhetoric on a lot of issues.” He said it “boils down to personal responsibility not to do something stupid.”

Deery also slammed an unpaid pizza delivery to his home this week, which he framed as a more subtle attempt at intimidation.

“This may seem like a harmless prank, and it certainly isn’t as serious as a swatting, but it still is an attempt to intimidate an elected official by conveying ‘we know where you live,’” Deery said. “Even this less serious tactic should be condemned and never normalized.”