Man Arrested for Arson at Prominent US Democrat’s Home

WASHINGTON: On Sunday, U.S. law enforcement officials reported the arrest of a man accused of arson and terrorism following an incident at the official residence of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a prominent Democratic figure.

Shapiro, who is often considered a possible candidate for the 2028 presidential election, was inside his Georgian-style mansion in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with his family when the fire erupted in another area of the house, according to the state police.

“The fire was quickly put out, but it did cause considerable damage to part of the residence,” the police stated in an announcement. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.

Shapiro recounted that he and his family were awakened by a state trooper who knocked on their door around 2:00 a.m. local time, leading to their evacuation from the building.

“I’m grateful that no one was harmed and that the fire was put out,” he expressed.

Addressing reporters outside the residence, with a charred window visible behind him, Shapiro made a passionate call for an end to political violence.

“This type of violence is becoming far too frequent in our society, and I don’t care if it’s coming from one side or the other… it’s unacceptable, and it must come to a halt,” he stated.

Earlier that evening, Shapiro, who is Jewish, had gathered with family and friends to celebrate the first night of Passover.

While the motives behind the arson remain unclear, Shapiro reaffirmed his determination to practice his faith without fear.

Authorities identified the suspect as 38-year-old Cody Balmer, who is now in custody.

“Cody Balmer is in custody, and we’re in the process of filing a criminal complaint against him,” announced district attorney Fran Chardo, elaborating that the charges would include “attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson, and aggravated assault against a public official.”

The term “public official” typically refers to law enforcement officers or other officials.

According to officials, Balmer accessed the property by climbing over a fence and was in possession of homemade incendiary devices.

He spent several minutes evading police before breaking in and setting the fire, as reported by leading state police officials Christopher Paris and George Bivens.

Top Republican leaders responded to the incident on Sunday afternoon. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi expressed relief that Governor Shapiro and his family were unharmed.

Vice President JD Vance condemned the attack as “disgusting violence” and expressed hope that “whoever is responsible is brought to justice swiftly.”

When asked about the incident while returning to Washington aboard Air Force One, President Donald Trump admitted that he had just learned of it.

The 51-year-old Shapiro previously ran in the Democratic primary to be Kamala Harris’s running mate during her unsuccessful presidential campaign, a position that ultimately went to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

Shapiro, known for his centrist political stance, was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 2022, defeating a far-right candidate supported by Trump.