An Ohio man has admitted to a hammer attack on Vice President JD Vance's Cincinnati home, a federal case that underscores the security threats facing top officials. William D. DeFoor, 26, entered the plea on Tuesday in federal court, according to the Justice Department.
DeFoor pleaded guilty to two counts: engaging in acts of physical violence against government officials or property, and causing willful injury or depredation to property of the U.S. The charges stem from an incident on January 5, when Secret Service officers spotted him running along the front fence of the Vance residence around midnight.
Prosecutors said DeFoor crossed the property line at the driveway and struck the driver's side window of an unmarked federal law enforcement vehicle three times with a hammer. He then shattered the glass windows at the front of the home. The damage to the "enhanced security assets"—windows owned by the federal government—amounted to $28,000, the DOJ said.
The Secret Service took DeFoor into custody shortly after the attack. Vance and his family were in Washington, D.C., at the time. The vice president and Second Lady Usha Vance have four children, with their youngest born in July.
In the aftermath, Vance described the perpetrator as a "crazy person" who tried to break in by "hammering the windows." He thanked the Secret Service and Cincinnati Police for their rapid response.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio Dominick S. Gerace II, whose office prosecuted the case, said in a statement that violence against political leaders, their families, or property "has no place" in society. "Our elected leaders, at all levels of government, must be permitted to carry out their duties free from threats, vandalism, and other forms of violence," Gerace added. "Perpetrators like DeFoor, who put that freedom at risk, particularly through violent, destructive actions, will, like here, be vigorously prosecuted."
DeFoor faces up to 20 years in prison—10 years for each count. U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole, a Trump appointee, will determine the sentence.
His attorney has said the actions were not politically motivated, and his mother has cited his struggle with schizophrenia, telling local media that mental illness "has taken over" his life "in a way that we could never have imagined." The case has drawn attention to the vice president's public profile and the security concerns that come with it.
The plea comes amid broader debates about political violence and safety for officials, as seen in discussions about the GOP's future and the party's stance on such issues. Federal authorities have emphasized that attacks on officials will be met with serious legal consequences.
