AUGUSTA, Maine — State police are investigating a hoax emergency call where an individual claimed he had broken into the home of Maine's secretary of state Friday night.
The Augusta Regional Communication Center received a call at approximately 8:15 p.m. from an unknown male advising he had broken into a home in the Augusta area, which police identified as the home of Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss said in a news release on Saturday.
Maine State Police reportedly responded to the call and conducted an investigation of the exterior and interior of the home at Bellows' request. Moss said nothing suspicious was found.
Bellows was not at her home at the time of the call, and no one was inside the home, Moss said. The incident is still under investigation, and Moss said no further information will be released at this time.
"The Maine State Police is working with our law enforcement partners to provide special attention to any and all appropriate locations," according to Moss.
The investigation comes one day after Bellows, a Democrat, ruled former President Donald Trump ineligible to appear on Maine's 2024 primary ballot following the receipt of three challenges to Trump's presidential primary nomination petition.
At least one Republican lawmaker has vowed to pursue impeachment against Bellows following her ruling on Thursday.
On Saturday, Bellows posted on Facebook in response to the incident, saying in part:
"This behavior is unacceptable. The non-stop threatening communications the people who work for me endured all day yesterday is unacceptable. It’s designed to scare not only me but also others into silence, to send a message. I am so grateful to have such an amazing team of employees at the Department of Secretary of State. Brandon and I are grateful for incredible, dedicated support from law enforcement in this time."