A suspect in the weekend arson attack on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s official residence has made his first court appearance, revealing that he harbored hatred for the Democrat and had planned to beat him with a hammer if they met.
Cody Balmer, 38, used homemade Molotov cocktails to set the mansion on fire on Sunday, while the governor and his family were asleep. The attack bears similarities to the October 2022 home invasion of former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s residence in San Francisco.
Balmer has been charged with attempted murder, arson, burglary, and terrorism intended to coerce “the conduct of a government.” He described himself as a certified master mechanic on Facebook and had previously expressed his dissatisfaction with high gasoline prices, posting about it in 2021.
A state trooper woke Shapiro’s family by banging on the door at around 2 a.m. Sunday morning, allowing them to rush to safety. The residence suffered significant damage, with photographs showing a charred grand room and debris scattered everywhere.
Shapiro and his family were unharmed, but the attack has raised concerns about antisemitic motives. Shapiro described the event as an attempt to trap him in bondage, while Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday stated that authorities are investigating whether there was an antisemitic motive behind the attack.
The case has been compared to last year’s attempt to assassinate former President Donald Trump during his presidential campaign. The suspect’s social media posts have revealed a history of violence and hate speech, raising concerns about the perpetrator’s intentions.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/suspect-arson-attack-pennsylvania-governors-residence-charged-with-attempted-2025-04-14