D.C. Representative Norton Victimized by Scam in Her Home

Washington, D.C. – Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, the nonvoting representative for D.C., was defrauded on Thursday by scammers posing as a cleaning crew, her office reported to News4.

The suspects charged nearly $4,400 to her credit card for services they never performed. According to a police report obtained by News4, the trio entered Norton’s home on 9th Street SE around 3:30 p.m. under false pretenses, claiming they were there to perform HVAC services.

Norton, 88, was home alone; her office later clarified that she does not have a caretaker, but rather employs a house manager who oversees maintenance services. A friend and long-time supporter, Jaqueline Pelt, noticed suspicious activity through security footage and advised Norton to dismiss the fake workers.

The police report stated that Pelt contacted authorities after discovering that Norton’s credit card had been charged $4,362 for duct and fireplace cleaning, despite no work being conducted. D.C. police and U.S. Capitol Police arrived to investigate, although no arrests were made immediately.

The incident report noted that Norton was described as having the “early stages of dementia,” a characterization that her office contested, stating that the police officer’s assessment was an unqualified assumption.

Norton’s spokesperson declined to disclose details about her health but confirmed that Pelt had reported the fraud to the police and acted to cancel the credit card charges.

This was not the first time the alleged scammers approached Norton; they had attempted to solicit her earlier in the year but were dismissed. The investigation into the fraud remains open, with law enforcement taking the situation seriously.

Norton, who has been in Congress since 1991, plans to run for reelection in the next term, despite calls for her to consider stepping down. The situation raises further discussions about the capabilities of aging politicians in the current political landscape.

The Congresswoman’s office issued a statement thanking the police for their prompt response and confirmed that the fraudulent charges have been reported. They noted, “The Congresswoman is safe; there will be no further comment.”