Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D) was swatted Friday night time based on police and Bellows, who was not house on the time. The swatting got here a day after Bellows eliminated Trump from the March 5 Maine Republican presidential major election over bogus 14th Modification ‘revolt’ allegations associated to the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
Over a dozen Republican and conservative activists have been focused with swattings over the Christmas vacation season with false calls made to police, normally claiming heinous crimes in progress with the purpose of upsetting a lethal police response on the the house of the goal. Bellows is without doubt one of the few Democrats swatted this previous week, with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu (D) and a former Democrat Nebraska state senator additionally swatted.
A cellphone name was made Friday night time from Bellows’ house to police with the caller stating he had simply damaged into Bellows’ house. Police discovered nobody there and no signal of a housebreaking, based on a press release reported by News Center Maine WCSH-TV (excerpt):
The Augusta Regional Communication Middle acquired a name at roughly 8:15 p.m. from an unknown male advising he had damaged into a house within the Augusta space, which police recognized as the house of Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, Maine Division of Public Security spokesperson Shannon Moss stated in a information launch on Saturday.
Maine State Police reportedly responded to the decision and carried out an investigation of the outside and inside of the house at Bellows’ request. Moss stated nothing suspicious was discovered.
Bellows was not at her house on the time of the decision, and nobody was inside the house, Moss stated. The incident continues to be underneath investigation, and Moss stated no additional info might be launched right now.
“The Maine State Police is working with our legislation enforcement companions to offer particular consideration to any and all applicable places,” based on Moss.
Bellows posted a press release on social media in regards to the swatting.
Expensive mates,
Thanks for the messages of affection and assist. I’ve been moved by each one and particularly by these from mates and family members who disagree with my choice however have reached out to precise love and respect. A lot of you could have requested if Brandon and I are protected. We’re away for the vacation weekend. We weren’t house yesterday when threats escalated, and our house tackle was posted on-line. It was factor as a result of our house was swatted final night time. That’s when somebody calls in a pretend emergency to evoke a powerful legislation enforcement response to scare the goal. Swatting incidents have resulted in casualties though fortunately this one didn’t.
This habits is unacceptable. The continuous threatening communications the individuals who work for me endured all day yesterday is unacceptable. It’s designed to scare not solely me but additionally others into silence, to ship a message. I’m so grateful to have such an incredible group of staff on the Division of Secretary of State. Brandon and I are grateful for unbelievable, devoted assist from legislation enforcement on this time. They’ve been superb.
I’ll be off social media this weekend, so I gained’t see or be capable of reply to your messages of affection and assist. However please maintain sharing that love. And please encourage these whom you affect to de-escalate the rhetoric. The Maine Wire for instance has been posting terribly dehumanizing pretend photos of me. (Others have posted pretend textual content threads attributed to me; do not forget that if it doesn’t sound like one thing I might say, it most likely isn’t.)
I do know from my earlier work that dehumanizing an individual is step one in paving the way in which for assaults and violence in opposition to them. These dehumanizing photos and threatening communications directed at me and folks I really like are harmful. We should always be capable of comply with disagree on essential points with out threats and violence. So my mates, please let’s channel love, respect and kindness and arise for these Maine values which have all the time made our state the way in which life must be. I really like you and am grateful for you.
Love,
Shenna
Bellows spoke to CBS News about her choice to bar Trump from the poll (excerpt):
“In evaluating the burden of the proof, it (was) made clear that Mr. Trump was conscious of the tinder that was laid in a multi-month effort to delegitimize the 2020 election and (he) then selected to mild a match,” stated Bellows, a Democrat who took workplace in 2021.
“The U.S. Structure doesn’t tolerate an assault on the foundations of our authorities. And Maine election legislation required me to behave in response,” she stated. “The occasions of January 6 have been unprecedented and tragic. It was an assault not solely on the Capitol and authorities officers, together with the previous vp and members of Congress, however on the rule of legislation itself. … Mr. Trump engaged in that revolt and thereby, isn’t certified to be on the poll.”
…”I take the Structure very critically. I swear an oath to uphold it. I take the First Modification very critically,” Bellows stated.
Trump has argued that he can’t be disqualified from the presidency over his conduct surrounding the 2020 election and occasions of Jan. 6 as a result of his speech is protected by the First Modification.
However Bellows rejected that argument, saying, “The legislation could be very clear that the First Modification doesn’t allow incitement of an revolt.”
George Washington College legislation professor Jonathan Turley (himself swatted Friday night time) slammed Bellows’ choice in an interview with Fox Information:
Jonathan Turley: “It’s actually placing how Bellows cloaks herself as a defender of democracy on this assertion when she is stopping voters from casting their vote for what’s at present the main candidate for the presidency. So it’s a really odd declare to make for my part.” pic.twitter.com/Q64dUzBQrL
— MAGA Struggle Room (@MAGAIncWarRoom) December 29, 2023