Maine’s Sec. of State the Target of Swatting Call After Trump Ban

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows was targeted by swatters after a controversial decision about the primary ballot.

Why Did Police Go to Bellows' Home?

It was approximately 8:15 Friday night when the Augusta Regional Communications Center got a call from an unknown male advising them that he had broken into a residence on Kerns Hill Road in the town of Manchester, which is the home of Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows. When officials arrived, they made an exterior check and an interior sweep of the home, per Bellows' request, but found nothing suspicious. With no evidence of a break-in,  the incident was determined to be a 'swatting call.'

What is Swatting?

The FBI defines 'swatting' as making a hoax call to 9-1-1 to draw a response from police. The calls often involve claims of emergency situations that result in SWAT teams being sent to the home. Typically, the aim is to scare the occupants. Swatting calls are usually done for revenge or, sometimes, as a prank.

Bellows posted a response to the swatting call on her Facebook page.

No one was hurt in the incident, which remains under investigation by the Maine State Police.

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What Was Bellows' Ruling Involving Former President Trump?

This incident happened after Bellows made the decision to take President Donald Trump off the 2024 Republican primary ballot in Maine. In her ruling, Bellows said her decision was based on President Trump's violation of the 14th amendment and his oath of office during the insurrection against the United States on January 6th, 2021.