Investigators have ruled out arson as the cause of a fire that destroyed the $1.5 million beachfront home of South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein on Saturday morning. The State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) said there is no evidence the blaze was intentionally set, and preliminary findings suggest it may have been a domestic accident.
Judge Goodstein, 69, was out walking her dogs when the fire broke out at her home in the Jeremy Cay gated community at Edisto Beach. Her husband, former Democratic State Senator Arnold Goldstein, 81, their son, and another person were inside and escaped via an upstairs window and balcony. They were rescued from a marshy area by emergency services in kayaks, with one person airlifted to hospital due to the severity of their injuries.
SLED Chief Mark Keel stated that there is no evidence of a pre-fire explosion, contrary to earlier comments from South Carolina Chief Justice John Kittredge, who had mentioned an “apparent explosion.” The investigation is ongoing, and Keel urged the public not to share unverified information.
The fire sparked unfounded speculation of political motives, as Judge Goodstein had issued a controversial ruling against the Trump administration last month. She blocked the release of sensitive voter registration data to the federal government, leading to death threats. New York Congressman Daniel Goldman suggested on social media that the fire might be linked to right-wing extremism, but White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller dismissed the claim as “libelous madness.”
Judge Goodstein declined to comment on the fire, directing inquiries to a court administrator. The South Carolina Supreme Court later overturned her ruling, siding with the state's Republican governor.
