DeFoor’s father, William, is a long-term Democrat who donated more than $11,600 (£8,500) to Kamala Harris’s campaign in the lead up to the 2024 election, according to the Daily Mail.
He also donated to Joe Biden’s presidential campaign in 2020, according to federal election commission records.
DeFoor was detained shortly after midnight on Monday after Secret Service agents heard a loud noise and found the suspect with a hammer, according to an agency spokesman.
It is not the first time DeFoor has been in trouble with the law. In April 2025, the suspect pleaded guilty to two counts of vandalism after he caused more than £1,500 worth of damages to a Hyde Park interior design company, according to court documents cited by Fox19. The suspect was sentenced to treatment at a mental health facility for two years and fined £4,100.
DeFoor will be arraigned in Hamilton County Municipal Court in Cincinnati on Tuesday. The cost of bond is expected to be set high owing to the suspect’s criminal history.
Motivation not yet released
Mr Vance expressed gratitude to the Secret Service and Cincinnati police for responding quickly to the incident.
“I appreciate everyone’s well wishes about the attack at our home,” he said on X. “As far as I can tell, a crazy person tried to break in by hammering the windows. I’m grateful to the Secret Service and the Cincinnati police for responding quickly.
“We weren’t even home as we had returned already to DC.”
Police were at the house for “several hours” on Sunday night, local media reported. Officials are investigating whether the suspect had deliberately targeted Mr Vance. The motivation behind the alleged attack has not been released.
City officials had announced road closures surrounding Mr Vance’s home and set up checkpoints from Dec 29 until Jan 4.
The Telegraph has approached the Cincinnati police department and the city’s council for comment.
Pro-Ukraine demonstrators camped outside Mr Vance’s Ohio home in March last year after his confrontation with Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office.
Donald Trump and Mr Vance’s meeting with the Ukrainian leader descended into a shouting match as they accused him of being “disrespectful” towards US financial and military support.
