The home of Diane Goodstein, a South Carolina judge who’s been receiving death threats after facing off with Trump in September, burned to the ground in a suspected explosion Saturday. Her husband, former State Representaive and Senator Arnold Goodstein, reportedly leapt from the building to escape.
As South Carolina’s FITSNews reports, the beachfront home of South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein went up in flames Saturday around 11:30 am, burning to the ground and sending three of her family members to the hospital. Per FITSNews, Goodstein was walking on the beach at the time of the incident.
Goodstein’s husband, Arnold Goodstein, who previously served as both a Democratic South Carolina State Representative and State Senator per Wikipedia, escaped the fire by jumping from a window or balcony of the residence after helping other family members evacuate. As South Carolina’s WS10 reports, the family was rescued via kayak, according to St. Paul’s Fire District.
Arnold Goodstein reportedly broke several bones in his hips, legs, and feet and had to be airlifted to the hospital, per FITSNews. The couple’s son, Arnold Goodstein II, and another family member were also reportedly hospitalized, as the Daily Mail reports.
South Carolina Chief Justice John Kittredge told FITSNews the fire was from an explosion, but law enforcement has not yet said whether arson is suspected.
“Chief Keel said he will stay in touch and let us know if there is any evidence of arson,” Kittredge told FITSNews. “At this time, we do not know whether the fire was accidental or arson. Until that determination is made, Chief Keel has alerted local law enforcement to provide extra patrols and security.”
Per South Carolina’s Gazette, Goodstein temporarily blocked the Department of Justice from accessing the voter data of South Carolina residents in September, which was later reversed by the Supreme Court, per FITSNews. A colleague told FITSNews that Goodstein had been receiving death threats in the weeks prior to the fire.
As Newsweek reports, Representative Daniel Goldman of New York wrote on X that Republicans have been “doxxing and threatening judges who rule against Trump, including Judge Goodstein.”
Trump, @StephenM and MAGA-world have been doxxing and threatening judges who rule against Trump, including Judge Goodstein.
— Daniel Goldman (@danielsgoldman) October 6, 2025
Today, someone committed arson on the Judge’s home, severely injuring her husband and son.
Will Trump speak out against the extreme right that did this?? https://t.co/Dl8JcUted7
Image: St. Paul’s Fire District/Facebook
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