Eleanor Holmes Norton, the nonvoting delegate for the District of Columbia, is reportedly experiencing “early stages of dementia,” as outlined in a police report highlighting a recent scam targeting her.
The 88-year-old Norton was deceived by a group posing as HVAC workers who arrived at her home in Washington, D.C., claiming they were there for maintenance, according to internal documents.
The scammers charged her credit card $4,362 without performing any actual work.
It appears Norton’s caretaker and power of attorney were not at her residence when the suspects came by shortly after 3:30 p.m. It was her caretaker who alerted the authorities upon noticing the unexpected visitors.
The police report mentions Norton’s cognitive decline, stating that she’s currently dealing with early-stage dementia.
“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (Washington, D.C.), an 88-year-old black woman, is suffering from early stages of dementia,” the report details.
Norton, who has served in Congress since 1991, has shown signs of mental deterioration and has had difficulties fulfilling her responsibilities, as noted by friends and colleagues. Earlier this year, there were reports indicating she was struggling with independent functioning and often had to rely on aides and loved ones for support. She was rarely attending House Oversight Committee meetings and sometimes didn’t recognize long-known acquaintances.
Norton’s office has pushed back against the dementia claim, stating in a response to NBC News4 that the officer who filed the report lacked the credentials to make such an assessment.
They also clarified that her “caretaker” is actually a “house manager.” They originally thought a staff member had coordinated the visit and provided the credit card, but upon review of security footage, it was confirmed there were no appointments scheduled. This was then reported to the police.
Furthermore, Norton’s office mentioned, “Congressman Norton does not have a custodian. A longtime employee and friend is the custodian and lives at a different address.”
The Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C. supplied a public incident report that did not include any mention of dementia, but it does indicate an ongoing investigation into the fraud case.
The suspect involved in the scam has yet to be apprehended.
Norton’s office reassured that the lawmaker is safe and that the fraudulent incident has been reported to both the police and her bank, thanking the Metropolitan and Capitol Police for their prompt action. They added that she won’t provide further comments on the situation.
Last month, Norton stated that despite growing concerns about her mental acuity, she has no intentions of retiring. When asked about her plans for re-election, she confidently replied, “Of course,” emphasizing that her seniority is important and she intends to stay on.
A spokesperson for Norton did not respond to requests for comment from The Post.
