Suspect detained after damage reported at Vice President JD Vance’s Cincinnati residence
This story has been updated to reflect the identity of the person who allegedly attacked VP JD Vance's home
Update: The suspect, who was detained for allegedly smashing the window of JD Vance’s home in Ohio, has been identified as Julia DeFoor, a transgender woman formerly known as William DeFoor, who happens to be the daughter of two wealthy Democrat donors.
Julia was born to William and Catherine DeFoor, both prominent pediatric doctors who have donated to Democratic causes, including former president Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris.
She grew up in luxury in Hyde Park and attended elite private schools.
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CINCINNATI, OHIO: A man was taken into custody overnight after allegedly damaging Vice President JD Vance's home in Cincinnati at midnight on Monday, January 5, according to the US Secret Service.
Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said an adult male was detained shortly after midnight by Secret Service personnel and then taken into custody by the Cincinnati Police Department.
NBC News reported that the suspect was accused of causing property damage, including breaking windows on the exterior of a personal residence associated with the vice president.
Vance family was in Washington when incident happened
Vance’s Press Secretary Taylor Van Kirk, said that the vice president and his family were in Washington, DC, at the time of the incident and were not present when the damage occurred.
Authorities have not released the suspect’s identity or any information about a possible motive.
I appreciate everyone's well wishes about the attack at our home. As far as I can tell, a crazy person tried to break in by hammering the windows. I'm grateful to the secret service and the Cincinnati police for responding quickly.
— JD Vance (@JDVance) January 5, 2026
We weren't even home as we had returned…
Guglielmi said the Secret Service is coordinating with the Cincinnati Police Department and the US Attorney’s Office as charging decisions are reviewed.
“The US Secret Service is coordinating with the Cincinnati Police Department and the US Attorney’s Office as charging decisions are reviewed,” Guglielmi said in a statement. The Cincinnati Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for further details.
Incident follows heightened political violence concerns
The incident comes amid heightened concerns about political violence in the United States following several high-profile attacks and killings over the past year.
These include the killings of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and Minnesota state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband.
President Donald Trump also faced two assassination attempts during the 2024 election cycle, and in recent months, several Indiana Republicans have reported being targeted by swatting incidents or threats amid political tensions linked to redistricting pressures from Trump.
Authorities said that the investigation remains active as federal and local law enforcement review evidence collected at the scene, including surveillance footage from the neighborhood and nearby security cameras.
Officials declined to say whether the suspect acted alone or whether investigators are examining any online activity or prior threats connected to the incident.
The Secret Service routinely investigates damage or threats involving protectees’ private residences, even when the individuals are not present, as part of its broader mandate to assess potential security risks.
