William D. DeFoor's father donated more than $12,000 to the Democratic Party, records show.
The father of the suspect accused of attacking Vice President JD Vance’s Cincinnati home with a hammer is a Democratic donor, according to a Daily Mail report and a Newsweek review of federal records. William D.
DeFoor, 26, faces federal and state charges after allegedly shattering four windows at Vance’s $1.4 million Ohio residence on Monday while the vice president's family was away. DeFoor was described as a man by the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of Ohio, but has gone by the name Julia DeFoor, according to a Facebook profile with photos resembling a mugshot of William D. DeFoor shared by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. It is unclear whether DeFoor is transgender, non-binary or just using a different name. Their father, identified by the Daily Mail as William DeFoor Jr., is a surgeon who went to Harvard University, according to his Facebook profile. He donated thousands to the Democratic Party, a Newsweek review of federal election records shows. Newsweek has contacted William DeFoor Jr. via direct message on social media for comment. No public response from the DeFoor family has been reported. Left: A photo posted on Julia DeFoor's Facebook profile. Right: A Hamilton County Municipal Court photo of William D. DeFoor. Why It Matters The break-in at the home of the vice president highlights ongoing concerns about threats to public figures and the security measures protecting them. The attack occurred while the Vance family was away, underlining potential vulnerabilities and the continued importance of protective details even when officials are not present. The suspect’s reported affluent and politically active Democratic family background adds another dimension to public interest and scrutiny of the case, particularly in light of the growing polarization surrounding such incidents in America. What To Know The attack took place shortly after midnight at Vance’s East Walnut Hills property, according to the Cincinnati Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service Secret Service agents stationed at the residence heard a loud noise, confronted a person breaking windows with a hammer, and detained the suspect after they attempted to flee. No injuries were reported. The suspect faces federal charges of damaging government property, engaging in violence on restricted grounds and assaulting federal officers, along with state charges of criminal damaging, trespass, obstruction and vandalism. The Daily Mail reported that the suspect grew up in Cincinnati’s affluent Hyde Park neighborhood in a $1.3 million house and is the eldest child of William DeFoor Jr., a pediatric urologist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and Catherine DeFoor, a general pediatrician. William DeFoor Jr. donated at least $11,300 to former Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in 2024, Election Commission records show. He also donated to former President Joe Biden’s campaign in 2020. William D. DeFoor attended the private Catholic high school Summit Country Day, according to the schools listed on the Julia DeFoor Facebook profile, where tuition can cost as much as $33,540 a year, according to the school’s website. Other schools listed on the Julia DeFoor profile include the University of Cincinnati, where William D. DeFoor studied jazz until 2020, although it is unclear whether they graduated. Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is listed as their current place of education. Law enforcement reports show William D. DeFoor has a history of legal trouble, including an April 2024 guilty plea to two counts of vandalism resulting in court-ordered mental health treatment, and a 2023 trespassing charge that was dismissed on mental competency grounds. No motive for the break-in has been disclosed by police or federal prosecutors as of publication. What People Are Saying Vice President JD Vance, on X: “I appreciate everyone’s well wishes about the attack at our home. As far as I can tell, a crazy person tried to break in by hammering the windows.“ Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi, in a previous statement to Newsweek: “Shortly after midnight on Monday, January 5, the man was physically detained by Secret Service agents assigned to the Vice President’s home. The residence was unoccupied at the time of the incident, and the Vice President and his family were not in Ohio. “The U.S. Secret Service is coordinating with the Cincinnati Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office as charging decisions are reviewed.“ What Happens Next William D. DeFoor is scheduled to be arraigned at Hamilton County Municipal Court on Tuesday. Federal and local law enforcement say investigations are ongoing, and further information regarding possible motives or additional charges may be released in coming days.
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