Eleanor Holmes Norton, a non-voting delegate representing the District of Columbia, has the “early levels of dementia,” in keeping with a police report detailing how scammers took benefit of the oldest member of the Home of Representatives.
Norton, 88, was duped by a number of suspects Thursday who went to her Washington, DC, house claiming to be HVAC staff, in keeping with an inner police report obtained by NBC News4.
The swindlers charged $4,362 to the Democratic congresswoman’s bank card with out performing any work.
Norton’s “caretaker/energy of lawyer was not at residence” on the time the group confirmed up, which was simply after 3:30 p.m., the report states, noting that it was Norton’s “caretaker” who referred to as DC police after noticing the unscheduled arrival on the congresswoman’s house.
Norton’s obvious cognitive impairment was described within the part of the police report detailing sufferer info.
“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC) 88 years previous, Black Girl, suffers early levels of dementia,” the report states.
Norton, who has served as a member of the Home since 1991, has proven indicators of psychological decline and has struggled to do her job on Capitol Hill lately, pals and colleagues informed the New York Occasions earlier this yr.
The congresswoman is described as being “unable to perform independently,” leaning on aides, shut family and friends members for assist, the outlet reported, noting that she not often attends Home Oversight Committee conferences and seems at occasions to not acknowledge individuals she has identified for years.
The congresswoman’s workplace dismissed the “dementia” declare, in an announcement to NBC News4.
“The medical analysis included within the police report was primarily based on an assumption the reporting officer was unqualified to make,” the assertion learn.
Norton’s workplace additionally contends the congresswoman’s “caretaker” is definitely a “home supervisor.”
“The Congresswoman employs a home supervisor who oversees all upkeep providers, so she initially assumed her employees had organized the go to and offered her bank card for cost,” Norton’s workplace stated. “Upon notifying her home supervisor, who reviewed Ring doorbell footage and confirmed that no such appointment had been scheduled, the incident was instantly reported to the police.”
“Congresswoman Norton doesn’t have a caretaker. A longtime worker and good friend serves as the home supervisor, residing at a separate tackle.”
DC’s Metropolitan Police Division offered The Submit with a “public incident report” which doesn’t embrace the “dementia” declare.
The report notes that police are investigating the case as a felony fraud in opposition to Norton.
The suspects stay at giant.
“The Congresswoman is protected and the fraudulent fees have been reported to the police and her financial institution,” her workplace added. “She thanks MPD and Capitol Police for his or her fast response. There can be no additional remark.”
Norton (D-DC) informed Axios final month that she has no plans to depart Congress regardless of the mounting issues about her psychological acuity.
“After all,” she responded, when requested if she was operating for re-election.
“I say that my seniority is what is essential, and I’m not going to step apart.”
A spokesperson for Norton didn’t reply to The Submit’s request for remark.
