Schumer calls for federal probe into possible hate crimes in attack on Pa. governor’s residence

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called on the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI to open a full investigation into the firebombing of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s official residence and whether it constitutes a federal hate crime.

Shapiro, his family and guests were awakened and evacuated safely from the Harrisburg residence early Sunday morning after a fire broke out in a public part of the building. Hours earlier, Shapiro, who is Jewish, hosted Passover Seder in the state dining room, which was heavily damaged in the attack.

“Given the deeply troubling allegations that the suspect targeted Governor Shapiro based in part on his religious identity, the April 13 incident warrants immediate and serious federal scrutiny,” Schumer said in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.

At an event in Harrisburg thanking firefighters Thursday, Shapiro reiterated that he would not weigh in on what the charges should be.

“Let me be very clear, I have total and complete confidence in (Dauphin County) District Attorney Fran Chardo to charge this case as he sees fit, to analyze the evidence, to apply the law and to see the case through,” Shapiro said.

Shapiro said he placed his trust in Chardo’s judgment and that he would respect the Department of Justice’s decision whether to bring federal charges.

“As to Senator Schumer or anybody else, I don’t think it’s helpful for people on the outside who haven’t seen the evidence, who don’t know what occurred, who are applying their own viewpoints to the situation to weigh in, in that manner,” he said.

Authorities quickly concluded the fire was intentionally set. A Harrisburg man who turned himself in to state police later in the day confessed to using Molotov cocktails to start the blaze. He also said he planned to beat Shapiro with a hammer he carried if he encountered the governor  inside the residence.

Cody Balmer, 38, has been charged with attempted murder, aggravated arson, terrorism, aggravated assault, burglary and related offenses. He was held without bail in Dauphin County Jail after a hearing Monday.

In an interview with investigators, Balmer said that he felt hatred toward Shapiro. Search warrants for Balmer’s electronic devices and writings released Wednesday revealed he made references to Shapiro and Palestine in a 911 call shortly after the fire when he also made a confession.

“The suspect told 911 operators that Governor Shapiro needs to know the suspect ‘will not take part in [Shapiro’s] plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people’ and referenced ‘our people’ being harmed by ‘that monster,’ Schumer’s letter says.

“These statements — in conjunction with the timing of the attack during Passover, Governor Shapiro’s visible embrace of his Jewish faith, and the context of rising antisemitism globally and across the country — raise serious concerns about antisemitic motivation,” the letter says.

Shapiro said Bondi was among dozens of officials, former governors and others who offered support and prayers on Sunday. Bondi said in a press briefing Wednesday that she and FBI director Kash Patel spoke with Shapiro after the attack.

She said Wednesday that she firmly believed the attack was intended to kill Shapiro and pledged to work with state authorities to do “anything we can to help convict the person that did this and keep them behind bars as long as possible.” 

Pennsylvania law provides prosecutors the option of adding an “ethnic intimidation” charge when a person commits an underlying offense such as assault, harassment, stalking and other crimes motivated by hatred toward the race, color, religion or national origin of a person or group. 

The charge enhances the severity of the offense, which can lead to tougher penalties. If an offense such as assault is graded as a second-degree felony, the ethnic intimidation charge becomes a first-degree felony with a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.

The Justice Department enforces a number of laws covering crimes based on race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability. These include damage to religious property and violent interference with federal protected activities. 

The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act covers attempted homicide and carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.