Man charged in firebombing Pennsylvania governor’s mansion held without bail after court appearance

The man charged with firebombing Gov. Josh Shapiro’s official residence was held without bail after his first court appearance Monday afternoon.

Cody Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg pleaded not guilty to eight counts, including attempted murder, aggravated arson, terrorism, aggravated assault, burglary and related offenses. 

District Judge Dale Klein denied a request by Balmer’s attorney for reasonable bail, citing a danger to the community if he were released. Balmer is being held at the State Correctional Institue- Camp Hill in Cumberland County..

Balmer’s arraignment had been scheduled for earlier in the day Monday. But, it was postponed when he suffered a medical event not related to his arrest or the events of the night before, state police said.

He was brought to court after receiving treatment at an hospital wearing civilian clothes – blue jeans and an inside-out thermal shirt. Bald-headed, sunken-eyed and wearing a large beard, Balmer let out a long sigh after taking a seat in the courtroom and stared straight ahead waiting for the judge.

During the brief hearing in West Hanover Township outside Harrisburg, Balmer gave terse answers to Klein’s questions. Asked whether he suffered mental illness, he replied, “That’s the rumor, but no ma’am.”

Balmer also told the judge he has “a lot of children,” but refused to disclose how many and said he had been living with his parents for the last year. 

In charges filed Sunday, state police accused Balmer of scaling a fence at the governor’s residence in downtown Harrisburg and using Molotov cocktails to set fire to a ceremonial dining room where Shapiro had celebrated the first night of Passover with family and guests hours earlier.

In a news conference after Balmer turned himself in at state police headquarters in Harrisburg, Shapiro said he and his wife Lori were thankful to first responders and others who had offered support. He added that the attack would not prevent him from serving Pennsylvanians or proudly celebrating his Jewish faith.