State Sen. Daniel Dernulc, R-Highland, received a false swatting call Wednesday — the day after the state Senate voted not to move forward with mid-census redistricting.
Dernulc told the Post-Tribune he received a call from the Highland Police Department Police Chief that a call came in about a domestic incident at his house.
“It is scary and shocking to me that someone would go so far to try to cause harm or fear to me or my family,” Dernulc said in a statement. “It is sad … 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.”
An hour after the police chief called him about the false police report, Dernulc told the Post-Tribune that he received a delivery of pizza where his statehouse number was used to place the false order, he said.
These incidents directly stem from the Senate’s decision not to move forward with mid-census redistricting, Dernulc said. He reiterated that he hasn’t publicly stated his position on redistricting, and that he has been listening to both sides of the argument.
“I’m being vilified for a position I haven’t even taken,” Dernulc said. “That is not good for our country and our state.”
Dernulc said he was thankful that the Highland Police Department contacted him directly. But, Dernulc said he couldn’t imagine what would’ve happened if police didn’t know who he was.
“I’m disappointed that this is what we have come to,” Dernulc said.
Highland Police Department Commander and spokesman John Banasiak said the Indiana State Police will be investigating the incident because it involved a state senator.
Dernulc became the second confirmed swatting report since Sunday. State Sen. Greg Goode, R-Terre Haute, received a false swatting call Sunday after President Donald Trump mentioned him in a Truth Social post about mid-census redistricting.
President Donald Trump issued a statement on his social media site Truth Social Sunday calling out “RINO” Bray and Senator Greg Goode, R-Terre Haute, “for not wanting to redistrict their state, allowing the United States Congress to perhaps gain two more Republican seats.”
Bray, Goode and other Republican Senators “should DO THEIR JOB, AND DO IT NOW! If not, let’s get them out of office ASAP,” Trump wrote.
Goode and his family were victims of a swatting incident Sunday night after a fake communication was sent to local police, according to a statement from the senator’s office.
Vigo County sheriff’s deputies responded to the house “under the impression of a domestic violence emergency,” according to the statement.
“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,” Goode said in a statement.
The Senate had been a hurdle for Indiana’s redistricting efforts after a spokeswoman for Bray told reporters last month that the Senate did not have the votes to pass new Congressional maps.
Braun called for a special legislative session to “consider altering the boundaries of Indiana’s congressional districts” and federal and state tax compliance beginning Nov. 3, according to a news release.
Indiana House and Senate leadership announced Nov. 3 the legislature will address “time sensitive issues” — including redistricting and taxes — during the first two weeks of December. That decision seemingly canceled the special session as the legislators would be meeting during the 2026 legislative session.
The Indiana Senate announced Friday it canceled a two-week session to discuss mid-census redistricting because of a lack of votes.
“Over the last several months, Senate Republicans have given very serious and thoughtful consideration to the concept of redrawing our state’s congressional maps. Today, I’m announcing there are not enough votes to move that idea forward, and the Senate will not reconvene in December,” Bray said in a statement Friday.
During Organization Day, the Senate voted to adjourn until Jan. 5, 2025, effectively canceling the possibility of meeting in December to discuss redistricting.
The House adjourned until Jan. 5, 2025, but House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, told the representatives to keep the first two weeks of December open as they may be called back.
akukulka@chicagotribune.com
