A property belonging to a South Carolina judge that temporarily blocked an effort by the Trump administration to obtain the state’s full voter registration list was destroyed in a fire on Saturday, according to multiple news reports.
The incident is under investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Property records cited by The Post and Courier and WCBD show the house belongs to Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein and her husband, former state Sen. Arnold Goodstein.
Three people were hospitalized as a result of the incident, fire officials said, but the judge was not at home at the time of the fire, according to South Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice John Kittredge who described the event as an “apparent explosion.”
“Judge Goodstein was walking on the beach when the fire started,” Kittredge said in a message to FITSNews. “Her husband, Arnie, was in the house with children and perhaps grandchildren. The family had to escape by jumping from a window or balcony. I’m told there were injuries from the fall, such as broken legs.”
“Arnie’s injuries may have been the most serious, for he was airlifted to the hospital,” Kittredge added, before noting “we do not know whether the fire was accidental or arson.”
