Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows’ home was “smashed” Friday night, police confirmed Saturday.
Maine State Police responded after an unidentified man lied about breaking into the home.
Bellows and his family were away at the time of the hoax call.
The incident comes after Bellows disqualified former President Trump from the state’s 2024 Republican presidential primary on Thursday night, citing Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which prohibits him from holding office. to those who “participated in the insurrection” for their alleged incitement to the January revolution. 6 riots.
Bellows made the decision after some state residents, including a bipartisan group of former lawmakers, questioned Trump’s position on the ballot.
“Swatting” is when someone calls the police under dangerous and false pretenses to trigger a police response, especially a SWAT team to a location.
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows’ home was “smashed” Friday night, police confirmed Saturday. AP
Some swatting calls in the past ended with the victim’s death. An Ohio man was sentenced to prison in 2019 after police accidentally killed a Kansas man he punched.
On Saturday, Bellows called the swatting call “unacceptable” in a lengthy statement on Facebook.
“Thank you for the messages of love and support,” he wrote. “I have been touched by everyone and especially those friends and loved ones who do not agree with my decision but have reached out to express love and respect.”
Bellows added that his staff had faced “unacceptable” and “nonstop and threatening” communications on Friday after his decision. “It is designed to scare not only me but also others into silence, to send a message. I am very grateful to have such an incredible team of employees at the Department of the Secretary of State. [Her husband] “Brandon and I are grateful for the incredible and dedicated support of law enforcement at this time.”
Bellows disqualified former President Trump from the Maine state election on Thursday. AFP via Getty Images
Maine State Police said officers investigated Bellows’ home at her request and found nothing suspicious.
The investigation is ongoing.
On Christmas Day, Republican U.S. Reps. Brandon Wiliams of New York and Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia were also the subject of swatting calls.
Then on Tuesday, Republican state Rep. Kevin D. Miller of Ohio reported that he had been crushed.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn