D.C. Delegate Norton Scammed; Police Report Disputed

Eleanor Holmes Norton, the 88-year-old nonvoting D.C. delegate to Congress, was scammed at her home by people posing as a cleaning/HVAC crew who charged about $4,362 to her credit card for work that was not performed. Her house manager, Jacqueline Pelt, reviewed security footage, contacted Norton’s card issuer to cancel the charges and reported the incident to police; U.S. Capitol Police also responded and a patrol car remained outside after suspects reportedly insisted they would return. D.C. police are treating the case as felony fraud, say no arrests have been made and that Norton’s credit card and driver’s license information “could potentially be compromised.” An internal police report described Norton as being in the “early stages of dementia” and noted a caretaker with power of attorney, a characterization Norton’s office disputes as unfounded and says Pelt is a longtime house manager, not a caretaker. The episode has drawn political scrutiny and renewed questions about Norton’s fitness for office amid stronger primary challengers and low campaign fundraising.