Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D) was swatted Friday night time in line with police and Bellows, who was not residence 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 ‘insurrection’ 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, often claiming heinous crimes in progress with the purpose of upsetting a lethal police response on the the house of the goal. Bellows is among the few Democrats swatted this previous week, with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu (D) and a former Democrat Nebraska state senator additionally swatted.
A telephone name was made Friday night time from Bellows’ residence to police with the caller stating he had simply damaged into Bellows’ residence. Police discovered nobody there and no signal of a housebreaking, in line with 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 residence on the time of the decision, and nobody was inside the house, Moss stated. The incident continues to be beneath investigation, and Moss stated no additional data might be launched right now.
“The Maine State Police is working with our law enforcement partners to provide special attention to any and all appropriate locations,” in line with Moss.
Bellows posted a press release on social media concerning the swatting.
Expensive buddies,
Thanks for the messages of affection and help. I’ve been moved by each one and particularly by these from buddies and family members who disagree with my determination however have reached out to specific love and respect. A lot of you’ve requested if Brandon and I are secure. We’re away for the vacation weekend. We weren’t residence yesterday when threats escalated, and our residence deal with was posted on-line. It was an excellent factor as a result of our residence was swatted final night time. That’s when somebody calls in a faux 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 conduct 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 in addition others into silence, to ship a message. I’m so grateful to have such an incredible crew of workers on the Division of Secretary of State. Brandon and I are grateful for unimaginable, devoted help 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 to reply to your messages of affection and help. However please hold 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 faux pictures of me. (Others have posted faux 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 best way for assaults and violence in opposition to them. These dehumanizing pictures and threatening communications directed at me and other people I like are harmful. We must always be capable to comply with disagree on vital points with out threats and violence. So my buddies, please let’s channel love, respect and kindness and rise up for these Maine values which have at all times made our state the best way life must be. I like you and am grateful for you.
Love,
Shenna
Bellows spoke to CBS News about her determination to bar Trump from the poll (excerpt):
“In evaluating the weight of the evidence, it (was) made clear that Mr. Trump was aware of the tinder that was laid in a multi-month effort to delegitimize the 2020 election and (he) then chose to light a match,” stated Bellows, a Democrat who took workplace in 2021.
“The U.S. Constitution does not tolerate an assault on the foundations of our government. And Maine election law required me to act in response,” she stated. “The events of January 6 were unprecedented and tragic. It was an assault not only on the Capitol and government officials, including the former vice president and members of Congress, but on the rule of law itself. … Mr. Trump engaged in that insurrection and thereby, is not qualified to be on the ballot.”
…”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 law is very clear that the First Amendment doesn’t permit incitement of an insurrection.”
George Washington College legislation professor Jonathan Turley (himself swatted Friday night time) slammed Bellows’ determination in an interview with Fox Information:
Jonathan Turley: “It is really striking how Bellows cloaks herself as a defender of democracy in this statement when she is preventing voters from casting their vote for what is currently the leading candidate for the presidency. So it’s a very odd claim to make in my view.” pic.twitter.com/Q64dUzBQrL
— MAGA Battle Room (@MAGAIncWarRoom) December 29, 2023
