$1.5M Home Destroyed in Fire Weeks After Judge Rules Against Trump

A judge’s $1.5 million Edisto Beach home was completely destroyed by fire just weeks after ruling against former President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice.

Firefighters Respond to Blaze

St. Paul’s Fire District responded to the emergency at Judge Diane Goodstein’s home on Saturday, October 4. According to a Facebook post, the first arriving crews “worked flawlessly together to ensure the safety of the occupants,” who escaped by jumping from the elevated first floor.

Due to the property’s remote layout, the occupants had to be rescued from the backyard via kayaks. They were then transported to Colleton County EMS for medical treatment. Three people were hospitalized, including Judge Goodstein’s husband, Arnold “Arnie” Goodstein, a former Democratic state senator.

Judge Goodstein was reportedly on the beach when the fire broke out.

Family Escapes Amid Chaos

South Carolina Chief Justice John Kittredge told FITSNews that Arnie Goodstein was in the house with children and possibly grandchildren. He added that the family escaped by jumping from a window or balcony. Some suffered injuries, including broken legs.

The fire appears to have started from an apparent explosion, though investigators have not determined whether it was accidental or deliberate. The South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is actively investigating the incident.

Ruling Against Trump’s DOJ

The blaze comes weeks after Circuit Court Judge Goodstein blocked the Department of Justice’s request for South Carolina voter data. The DOJ sought information on more than 3.3 million registered voters, including names, addresses, birthdates, driver’s license numbers, and the last four digits of Social Security numbers.

The federal government intended to compare this data with a Department of Homeland Security database to identify potentially ineligible voters, The New York Times reported.

South Carolina voter Anne Crook filed a lawsuit to stop the handover. On September 2, Judge Goodstein issued a temporary restraining order, citing the risk of “immediate and irreparable damage” to Crook’s privacy rights.

Previous Threats

A judge close to Goodstein told FITSNews that she has received multiple death threats over the years, highlighting ongoing security concerns.

Investigation Continues

SLED confirmed the investigation is active and ongoing. Renée Wunderlich, the agency’s public information director, told FITSNews: “More information may be available as the investigation continues.”