SC Judge’s Home Fire Under Active Investigation Amid Political Tensions; No Arson Evidence Yet
SC Judge’s Home Fire Under Active Investigation Amid Political Tensions; No Arson Evidence Yet
South Carolina law enforcement officials are actively investigating a fire that severely damaged the Edisto beach home of Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein and her husband, former Democratic state senator Arnold Goodstein, on October 4, 2025. Three individuals were hospitalized following the blaze.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has confirmed an “active and ongoing” investigation into the incident. SLED Chief Mark Keel stated that, “at this time there is no evidence to indicate the fire was intentionally set,” nor has preliminary evidence suggested a pre-fire explosion. The FBI’s Columbia Field office is aware but SLED leads the probe, with federal charges possible if arson is determined.
Despite the undetermined cause, the incident has quickly become a flashpoint for political commentary. Democrats, including Rep. Daniel Goldman, have pointed fingers at the political right, linking the fire to alleged threats against judges who rule against the Trump administration, citing Judge Goodstein’s temporary block of a state voting records seizure.
Conversely, Trump’s deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller dismissed these claims as “despicable lies.” Similarly, Justice Department official Harmeet Dhillon, who was previously cited by a California Governor’s staffer for “publicly targeting” Judge Goodstein over the voting records issue, has rejected any link and reported receiving threats herself as a result of the accusations.
Authorities continue to urge the public and officials to refrain from sharing unverified information as the complex investigation proceeds.
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