A long-serving member of Congress was reportedly victimized by scammers at their Washington, D.C. home this week, which led to a shocking allegation about that member's health status.

Non-voting Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), 88, was defrauded for more than $4,000 on Thursday, in part because she is suffering from "dementia," per a police report, according to the New York Post.

The concerning incident and revelation come at a time when a growing number of Americans believe that too many lawmakers on Capitol Hill are too old and no longer possess the necessary physical and mental capabilities to perform their legislative duties.

Police say congresswoman is suffering from "dementia"

D.C.'s local NBC affiliate reported that a group of suspects posing as an HVAC cleaning and repair team showed up at Del. Norton's home on Thursday and charged one of her credit cards for $4,362 for purported work that was never done.

According to the police report, an unnamed "caretaker/power of attorney," who typically manages the lawmaker's home on her behalf, "was not at residence" at the time of the scam, but soon discovered what had occurred and swiftly notified law enforcement.

The report also described the victim of the alleged crime as "Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), 88 years old, Black Woman, suffers early stages of dementia."

It was further noted that, though nothing else was stolen from the home, an investigation was opened into the alleged felony credit card fraud, that the incident had been reported to the credit card company, and that there were legitimate concerns that Norton's financial information and driver's license number "could potentially be compromised" by the scammers.

Norton's office disputed the police report

The local affiliate's report shared a statement from Del. Norton's office that seemingly pushed back against some of the claims in the police report, including that the legislator suffered from "dementia" and that she had a "caretaker" looking after her personal affairs.

"The Congresswoman employs a house manager who oversees all maintenance services, so she initially assumed her staff had arranged the visit and provided her credit card for payment," the statement said. "Upon notifying her house manager, who reviewed Ring doorbell footage and confirmed that no such appointment had been scheduled, the incident was immediately reported to the police."

"Congresswoman Norton doesn't have a caretaker. A longtime employee and friend serves as the house manager, residing at a separate address," the office continued, with that individual being separately identified as Jaqueline Pelt, who also serves as Norton's campaign treasurer.

As for the report's assessment of "dementia" for Norton, the lawmaker's office countered, "The medical diagnosis included in the police report was based on an assumption the reporting officer was unqualified to make."

Norton refusing to retire

The Post reported that Del. Norton, who was first elected in 1990, has struggled to do her job, needed assistance from staffers and others to get around, and has shown signs of cognitive decline in recent years.

However, according to a recent Axios report about elderly Democratic lawmakers who are refusing to step down to make room for the younger generations, Norton is included in that number and recently confirmed that she "of course" plans to run for re-election to yet another two-year term next year.

In dismissing the growing but largely anonymous chorus of voices calling for her to retire, Norton told the outlet, "I say that my seniority is what is very important, and I am not going to step aside."