Politics

Ohio man pleads guilty to federal charges after vandalizing JD Vance's home

A 26-year-old admitted to smashing windows at the vice president's Cincinnati residence with a hammer in January.

Updated Sep 1, 2026 · 20:20 UTC1 reports

The short version

William D. DeFoor pleaded guilty to two federal charges related to property destruction and violence against government property at Vice President JD Vance's Cincinnati home.
Prosecutors reported that DeFoor used a hammer to damage an unmarked federal vehicle and historic windows at the residence, totaling $28,000 in damage while the Vance family was away.
DeFoor remains in custody awaiting a sentencing hearing, while his defense and family have maintained the incident was driven by mental illness rather than political motives.

William D. DeFoor, 26, entered guilty pleas to charges of committing physical violence against government officials or property and causing willful injury or depredation to United States property.[NBC News]
The incident occurred on January 5 at JD Vance's residence in Cincinnati while Vance and his family were in Washington, D.C.[NBC News]
According to prosecutors, DeFoor used a hammer to strike an unmarked federal law enforcement vehicle and break historic glass windows, causing $28,000 in damage before being arrested while fleeing on foot.[NBC News]
DeFoor is currently detained pending sentencing.[NBC News]
DeFoor's defense attorney previously stated the actions were not politically motivated, and his mother stated that he suffers from psychiatric issues.[NBC News]

A specific date for DeFoor's sentencing hearing and the potential penalties he faces have not been detailed.[NBC News]