News
Boston’s Mayor Michelle Wu was swatted on Christmas Day, two weeks after hosting a controversial holiday party for the non-white city council members.
The Boston Police Department were called to a reported shooting turned hostage situation at Wu’s home in the city’s Roslindale neighborhood around 5:30 p.m. on Monday, according to WBUR.
The call was made through the city’s 311 information system claiming a man had shot his wife inside the home and tied her up, alongside a second man.
But once police and EMS crews arrived, they realized it was the mayor’s home and they were given a fake emergency call.
Wu, 38, says was shocked to open her door and see all the flashing lights but it did not disrupt her family’s evening.
“For better or worse my family are a bit used to it by now, and we have a good system with the department,” she told the radio station.
It is not clear if Wu’s two young sons, whom she shares with her husband Conor Pewarski, were in the home at the time of the call.
Wu has been under fire after it was revealed she was the host of an “Electeds of Color Holiday Party,” earlier this month.
A staffer inside city hall accidentally sent the party invitation to all city councilors instead of just the non-white members.
The Boston City Council is comprised of six minority and seven white members.
“I did send that to everyone by accident, and I apologize if my email may have offended or came across as so,” Denise DosSantos, director of City Council relations wrote in a follow-up message fifteen minutes after the errant email. “Sorry for any confusion this may have caused.”
Wu defended the party hours before the elected officials were set to gather, saying it had become a yearly tradition for the “diverse” group to celebrate the holidays together and each person takes turns hosting.
“I’ve been a part of a group that gathers, representing elected officials of color across all different levels of government in Massachusetts,” Wu said at the time, according to WCVB. “A group that has been in place for more than a decade, and the opportunity to create a space for people to celebrate and rotate who hosts.”
The mayor later released a photo from the party showing the “diverse” group posing while gathered around the table.
Wu claimed Monday’s swatting incident was not the first time she’s been targeted for such calls since she took office in November 2021.
She went on to slam the frequency of such calls saying it took first responders away from actual incidents.
“When there are true emergencies that happen and there are resources being deployed in this way, it is concerning,” Wu told the station.
Police are still investigating if Monday’s call was related to any of the other one’s at Wu’s home.
Wu wasn’t the only politician to have uninvited guests show up to her door on Christmas, as far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was also the target of a swatting call to her home.
“I was just swatted. This is like the 8th time,” Greene posted on X on Monday. “On Christmas with my family here. My local police are the GREATEST and shouldn’t have to deal with this.
The Georgia congresswoman shared she was targeted, this time because a man called the Rome Police Department’s Suicide Hotline claiming he shot his wife and was threatening to kill himself.
Luckily for all involved, the dispatchers contacted Greene’s security detail and confirmed there was no incident happening at the home and canceled response while law enforcement was still in route.
