You need to know
The home of the South Carolina Circuit judge, which recently ruled against President Donald Trump, burned out on Saturday, October 4th, but authorities are cautioning the jump to conclusions while the investigation continues.
Judge Diane Goodstein was walking her dog when her Edisto Beach home started to burn, according to the Post and Courier. However, other members of her family in the house, including her husband, a Vietnam War veteran and former Democratic Sen. Arnold Goodstein, reportedly suffered serious injuries after jumping out of windows and balconies to avoid the flames.
Colleton County Fire Rescue KC Campbell told the newspaper.
South Carolina Judicial Branch. St. Paul’s Fire District
South Carolina Premier John Kittledge initially told FitsNews that the fire appears to have been caused by an “explosion,” but officials have decided whether the fire was accidental or an arson.
“Until that decision was made,[state law enforcement director Mark Keel]warned local law enforcement agencies to provide additional patrol and security,” he said.
Kiel shared the update Monday afternoon, which the public tried to stop speculation. Sled agents noted that they have yet to reveal evidence that the fire was intentionally launched or caused by the explosion. He said the agents continued to investigate the circumstances of the incident and committed to sharing more information when their work is finished.
Goodstein, 69, has been suffering death threats in recent weeks, sources told local news outlet FitsNews, adding a layer of doubt to the online conversation surrounding the fire.
Last month, Goodstein decided to temporarily block voter files from the Department of Justice as part of an executive order in March aimed at preventing non-citizens from registering for the vote.
Goodstein said in his ruling that handing over data to the Trump administration could cause “immediate and irreparable damage” to voters’ rights to privacy. Her decision was later overturned by the South Carolina Supreme Court and publicly criticized by the state’s Republican Gov. Henry McMaster and DOJ’s official Hermeet Dillon.
Recent political violence has given public figures the edge following the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on September 10, and the arson attack on the homes of Democratic Minnesota House leader Melissa Hortman and husband Mark, as well as Democrat Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Don’t miss the story – Sign up for people’s free daily newsletters and stay up to date with what people have to offer.
In May, a bipartisan group of more than 150 federal and state judges sent a joint letter to Attorney General Pam Bondy, denounced what they called “a pattern of retaliatory attacks aimed at threatening the judiciary.”
But Trump’s allies continue to speak out against left-leaning judges accusing them of using jurisdiction to block the administration’s conservative purposes.
On the afternoon of October 4th, the same day Goodstein’s house burned out, White House Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller posted to X.
“The only remedy,” Miller continued. “It’s about using legitimate national power to dismantle terrorism and terrorist networks.”
