Eleanor Holmes Norton, the 88‑year‑old non‑voting Delegate from Washington, D.C., is reported to be in the “early stages of dementia” while also being the victim of a home scam where “cleaning crew” impostors charged her over $4,300 for nonexistent services.
According to a police report in Washington, D.C., Norton let a group of purported HVAC workers into her residence in the 9th Street SE area just after 3:30 p.m. The report states they claimed to provide duct and fireplace cleaning, but no actual services were rendered; yet Norton’s credit card was charged $4,362.
The report further claims that at the time of arrival the person holding power of attorney was not present. Upon seeing the workers on her home security camera, the attorney‑in‑fact instructed Norton to dismiss them, but the workers remained until the charge went through and police were notified.
The claim that Norton is in the early stages of dementia stems from the same D.C. Metro Police document. While Norton’s office disputes the characterization, the official report says she has a caretaker with power of attorney.
The incident raises serious questions about the vulnerability of elderly public officials, the safeguards around their financial exposures, and the appropriateness of continuing long‑term service by members of Congress who may be facing cognitive decline.
