❓WHAT HAPPENED: An 88-year-old Democrat politician was scammed out of thousands of dollars in her home by scammers posing as HVAC workers.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Eleanor Holmes Norton, Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from the District of Columbia’s at-large district, and her house manager, Jacqueline Pelt, and the alleged scammers.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred in Norton’s Washington, D.C. apartment last week.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Congresswoman Norton doesn’t have a caretaker. A longtime employee and friend serves as the house manager.” – Norton’s spokesman
🎯IMPACT: Norton’s credit card and driver’s license numbers may have been compromised, and the incident is under felony fraud investigation.
Eleanor Holmes Norton, the oldest member of the U.S. House of Representatives and a non-voting delegate from Washington, D.C., fell victim to a scam at her home last Thursday. Posing as HVAC workers, a group of people entered her apartment, charged her nearly $4,400 using her credit card, and left without performing any work. The fraud was discovered when Norton’s house manager, Jacqueline Pelt, reviewed security footage and called the police.
The police report revealed that Norton is in the “early stages of dementia” and has a caretaker with power of attorney, though her office disputes this claim. Norton’s spokesman insisted, “Congresswoman Norton doesn’t have a caretaker. A longtime employee and friend serves as the house manager, residing at a separate address.” The spokesman also said that Norton initially believed the visit was prearranged by her staff.
Authorities, including the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and U.S. Capitol Police, are investigating the incident as felony fraud. They noted that this was the third fraud attempt targeting Norton this year, though the first two were unsuccessful. No arrests have been made.
Norton, who has announced her intention to run for re-election despite her advanced age and visible frailty, has faced increasing scrutiny over her ability to serve. At public events, she has appeared unsteady, relying on aides for assistance. Some Democrat colleagues and former allies, such as Donna Brazile, have publicly urged Norton to retire, arguing that the district needs “a new champion to defend us.”
Despite these challenges, Norton has doubled down on her decision to remain in office, citing her seniority as a key asset. “I say that my seniority is what is very important, and I am not going to step aside,” she vowed in September.
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