ALBAWABA- A suspect has been arrested after vandalizing the Ohio residence of U.S. Vice President JD Vance in a late-night security incident, authorities said on Monday.
The U.S. Secret Service, working with Cincinnati police, detained 26-year-old William DeFoor of Hyde Park shortly after midnight after he allegedly smashed multiple exterior windows at Vance’s home in the East Walnut Hills neighborhood of Cincinnati.
Officials said the suspect used a hammer and appeared to attempt to force entry, but did not breach the interior of the residence.
DeFoor faces several charges, including criminal damage, obstructing official business, criminal trespass, and felony vandalism. No injuries were reported.
Vice President Vance and his family were not at the property at the time, having returned to Washington, D.C., earlier that evening. In a post on X, Vance said “a crazy person tried to break in by hammering the windows,” and thanked the Secret Service and Cincinnati police for their rapid response.
Federal law enforcement officials said the motive remains under investigation, and it is not yet clear whether the act was targeted political vandalism or an attempted break-in.
The incident comes amid heightened political tensions in the United States following Washington’s controversial military operation on January 3 that led to the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his transfer to New York to face drug trafficking charges.
The operation triggered widespread international condemnation and an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council earlier on Monday.
While authorities stressed that no direct link has been established between the vandalism and recent foreign policy developments, security experts note that polarized domestic reactions to U.S. actions abroad have raised concerns about potential spillover into political violence at home.
The Secret Service said it has reinforced security measures for senior officials as investigations continue.
