Featured Image Credit: St Paul’s Fire District/Facebook
Topics: US News, South Carolina, Donald Trump
Ellie Kemp
Topics: US News, South Carolina, Donald Trump
Authorities have given a major update after a US judge's $1.5 million home was burned to the ground.
Diane Goodstein's property in Edisto Beach, South Carolina went up in flames on Saturday, October 4.
St Paul's Fire District attended the scene and said occupants were forced to jump 'from an elevated first floor' to escape.
Three people were hospitalized, including Goodstein's husband, former Democratic state senator Arnold 'Arnie' Goodstein.
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South Carolina Chief Justice John Kittredge told FITSNews that Arnie 'was in the house with children and perhaps grandchildren', adding: "I’m told there were injuries from the fall, such as broken legs."
Circuit Court Judge Goodstein was reportedly on the beach when the fire broke out.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, she confirmed she is 'all right' following the incident. South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is currently investigating the blaze.
Initially, Kittredge said the fire was the result of an 'apparent explosion', saying that is was unclear whether the fire was 'accidental or arson'.
Now, SLED officials have offered an update on the case.
In an email to Newsweek, SLED Chief Mark Keel said: "At this time, there is no evidence to indicate the fire was intentionally set."
He also divulged there was 'no evidence of a pre-fire explosion'.
Keel added: "I urge our citizens, elected officials, and members of the press to exercise good judgment and not share information that has not been verified."
It comes just weeks after Goodstein ruled against Donald Trump's Department of Justice.
The DOJ demanded South Carolina's State Election Commission (SEC) to hand over personal information belonging to more than 3.3 million registered voters.
The data included names, addresses, birthdates, driver’s license numbers, and the last four digits of Social Security numbers.
The administration intended to compare this voter data with a Department of Homeland Security database that tracks non-citizens, in an effort to identify whether any registered voters might be ineligible, The New York Times reported.
However, South Carolina voter Anne Crook filed a lawsuit to stop the handover, and on September 2, Goodstein issued a temporary restraining order, halting the transfer of voter information.
In her ruling, Goodstein wrote that releasing the data could cause 'immediate and irreparable damage' to Crook by violating her right to privacy, according to court documents obtained by WRDW.
But on September 11, the South Carolina Supreme Court unanimously overturned the temporary restraining order, ruling that Goodstein’s order was 'clearly erroneous' and not procedurally correct.
SEC spokesman John Michael Catalano said the Commission is working with the DOJ to develop an agreement that 'ensures any data sharing is conducted in full compliance with the law while protecting the privacy of South Carolina voters'.
It is not yet clear when the transfer will take place.