Maine elections official's house 'swatted' after Trump's removal from primary ballot

Maine State Secretary of State Shenna Bellows recently made headlines after removing former United States president Donald Trump from the state's 2024 primary ballot, CNN reported.

However, the news took an unsettling turn when state police responded to a swatting call at her home in Manchester on Friday night.

According to a statement released by the police on Saturday, the incident occurred around 8:25pm, but fortunately, no residents were at home at the time.

Bellows requested that Maine State Police officers conduct an exterior check of the residence and an interior sweep, which they did, but they didn't find anything suspicious.

Swatting is a dangerous and illegal prank call made to authorities to lure them to a location, usually a home, by leading them to believe a crime has been committed or is in progress.

This results in a forceful response from local police or Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) teams, who have no way of knowing the call is a hoax.

Bellows, a Democrat, removed Trump from the 2024 primary ballot a few days ago, citing the 14th Amendment's "insurrectionist ban". The decision is on hold until the state's Superior Court issues a ruling, with the state's Supreme Court expected to act by the end of January if appealed.

While appearing on CNN's show on Friday, Bellows revealed that her office has received threats since her decision.

"We have received threatening communications. I certainly worry about the safety of the people that I love, the people around me, and the people charged with protecting me and working alongside me.

"That being said, we are a nation of laws, and that's what's really important. So, I have been laser-focused on that obligation to uphold the Constitution."

The secretary of state acknowledged the swatting call and the "non-stop threatening communications" she and her husband, Brandon, have been receiving since Friday in a Facebook post.

She stated that the threats were intended to scare "others into silence and send a message."

Maine State Police are investigating the swatting incident at Bellows' home in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies.