By Gao Yun
U.S. authorities said on Monday, Jan. 5, that an incident of property damage occurred at the Ohio residence of U.S. Vice President JD Vance. A man has been taken into custody, and an investigation is ongoing.
The U.S. Secret Service and the vice president’s spokesperson stated that the Vance family was not in Ohio at the time of the incident.
Photos released by local media show damage to the home’s windows. A Secret Service spokesperson said that an adult male, whose identity has not yet been confirmed, was detained for “causing property damage, including smashing the exterior window of a private residence associated with Vance.”
Vance’s home is located on a hill in the Walnut Hills neighborhood, overlooking the city, near one of Cincinnati’s oldest districts. The area contains many historic landmarks, including the former home of renowned author Harriet Beecher Stowe.
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Authorities said the incident occurred shortly after midnight.
JD Vance not home at the time of the incident
According to Cincinnati police radio scanner records, the Secret Service reported a “possible burglary” at Vance’s residence, after which police quickly apprehended a suspect.
A Secret Service spokesperson said the suspect will be questioned by the agency and is currently being held locally on charges of trespassing and intentional property damage. A federal-level investigation will also be initiated.
Vance later posted on social media platform X, saying, “Thank you all for your concern and well wishes regarding the attack on our home.” He added, “As far as I know, a madman tried to break in by smashing the window with a hammer.” Vance also thanked the Secret Service and Cincinnati police for their rapid response, noting that he and his family had already returned to Washington, D.C. and were not at home at the time.
A federal law enforcement official told CNN earlier on Monday that authorities are investigating whether the incident was specifically directed at Vance or his family, but currently do not believe the suspect entered the interior of the vice president’s residence.
The report noted that the incident comes amid growing concerns in U.S. society over political violence. Previously, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot in September, and Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were killed in June.
