Home addresses for Maine Senate and House members and candidates are no longer listed on the Legislature’s and the secretary of state’s websites in the wake of shootings that killed one Minnesota legislator and her husband and wounded a second lawmaker and his wife.
The removals came just days after a shooter killed Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and seriously wounded state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, at their homes Saturday morning.
The suspect in the two attacks was arrested Sunday after a nearly two-day manhunt. The Associated Press reported that a list of about 70 names, including dozens of Democratic state and federal lawmakers, was found in writings left behind at one of the crime scenes.
Suzanne Gresser, executive director of the Legislature, directed inquiries about the changes to the body’s website Tuesday to state Senate and House leaders. The scrubbing of the addresses was first reported by the Bangor Daily News.
Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said in an emailed statement Tuesday afternoon that home addresses for legislative candidates were removed from her office’s website “out of an abundance of caution.” She said she was only able to comment on the changes to her office’s website.
“The Capitol Police do a tremendous job protecting legislators and staff, and we are fortunate to have their protection while at the State House and working in state offices,” Bellows said in her prepared statement. “Maine lawmakers and public officials have always prided ourselves on being accessible to the people that we represent and serve.
“The tragic murders of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband and the attempted murders of Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were a stark reminder that, especially in these contentious and divided times, safety concerns do not end at the door of the State House.”
In late 2023, Bellows was the subject of a “swatting” incident in which a fake emergency is reported in order to elicit a heavy police response to a target’s home.
The swatting took place after Bellows’ attempt to bar President Donald Trump from appearing on Maine’s 2024 primary election ballot and someone posted her address online. At the time, she reported that she and her staff members were receiving “nonstop threats” and a “barrage of aggressive, abusive communications.”
In February, two European men were charged in relation to the swatting attempts. The Secret Service said the men made about 100 similar calls to government and police phone numbers, all of them involving false reports of emergencies.
On Tuesday, Assistant House Minority Leader Katrina Smith, R-Palermo, called it “a wise move” to remove legislators’ home addresses from state websites “during these contentious times.”
“We all have small districts and our constituents are fully aware how to reach us when they need,” Smith wrote in a statement. “The ability to govern without fear of violence should be protected.”
Representatives for Maine Senate Republicans declined to comment, as did a spokesperson for Democratic Senate President Mattie Daughtry. A spokesperson for Democratic House Speaker Ryan Fecteau did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday afternoon.
Chief of Capitol Police Matthew Clancy did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday evening on any increase in threats to Maine lawmakers or any new measures the Capitol Police are taking to heighten safety.