A massive fire tore through the South Carolina home of Judge Diane Goodstein on Saturday, completely destroying the property and leaving three people injured, including her husband. Goodstein, who serves on the state Circuit Court, confirmed that she is “alright” in her first public comments to the Daily Mail following the devastating blaze, as reported by The Post and Courier.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, but the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has launched an investigation into the incident. We reached out to SLED for comment via email on Monday outside of regular office hours.
NEW: Police have launched an investigation after SC Judge Diane Goodstein's Edisto Beach home burned to the ground after an 'apparent explosion.'
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 5, 2025
Goodstein's husband, former State Senator Arnold Goodstein, was rushed to the hospital along with other family members.
"Judge… pic.twitter.com/Yu87G3l7ne
The timing of the fire has drawn attention, coming just weeks after Judge Goodstein issued a ruling against the Trump administration. However, officials have not yet determined whether the blaze was deliberate. At this point, there is no evidence suggesting arson. Even so, the fire has stirred intense online debate and hostility directed at members of the judiciary who have ruled unfavorably toward Trump and his allies.
Goodstein’s husband, former Democratic state Senator Arnold Goodstein, was among those hospitalized. According to a neighbor, he reportedly leapt from the burning house and had to be rescued from a marshy area behind the property. Neighbor Tom Peterson told The Post and Courier that the judge had been walking her dogs on the beach when the fire broke out.
Captain K.C. Campbell of the Colleton County Fire Rescue confirmed that three people were taken to the hospital, with one airlifted to the Medical University of South Carolina.
Last month, Judge Goodstein issued a ruling temporarily blocking South Carolina from sharing millions of voters’ personal information with the Trump administration — a decision that angered several top Republicans, including Governor Henry McMaster and DOJ official Harmeet Dhillon.
Democratic Representative Daniel Goldman of New York responded to the fire on X, writing that Republicans, including President Donald Trump and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, have been “doxxing and threatening judges who rule against Trump, including Judge Goodstein.” Miller fired back, calling Goldman “deeply warped and vile,” accusing him of “spreading libelous madness,” and insisting the Trump administration has undertaken a “government-wide effort to combat and prosecute illegal doxing.”
In recent weeks, Trump’s allies have increased their criticism of judges they perceive as politically biased. Miller wrote on X that “far-left Democrat judges” were protecting “a large and growing movement of leftwing terrorism in this country.”
Adding to the uproar, X CEO Elon Musk, who once served as an adviser to Trump, amplified a post calling for the impeachment of “corrupt judges.”
A spokesperson for SLED told FITSNews: “SLED is investigating a house fire in Colleton County. The investigation is active and ongoing. More information may be available as the investigation continues.”
Izzy Gardon, communications director for California Governor Gavin Newsom, posted on X: “A few weeks ago, one of Trump’s top DOJ officials publicly targeted this judge. Today, the judge’s home is on fire.”
Political commentator Wajahat Ali also weighed in, writing: “.@elonmusk, any thoughts about South Carolina Judge Goodstein’s home burning to the ground in an apparent act of arson that almost killed her family? You just tweeted against judges today, so I’m curious if you feel you engaged in some dangerous hateful rhetoric?”
The investigation into the blaze that destroyed Judge Goodstein’s home remains ongoing as authorities continue to determine what caused the fire.
