A man from California faces charges for deliberately starting a fire outside the Vermont office of U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, as federal prosecutors revealed on Sunday.
According to a press release from the Department of Justice, on Friday morning, Shant Soghomonian, 35, entered a building in Burlington, Vermont and proceeded to make his way to Sanders’ office on the third floor.
Soghomonian exited the building just as a fire ignited, according to officials. The blaze caused damage to the exterior of the office door and its vicinity. Sprinklers on various floors were activated in response.
At the time, there were multiple employees present in Sanders’ office, thankfully none of them sustained any injuries.
According to a press release from the Justice Department, Soghomonian was arrested on Sunday for allegedly using fire to damage a building used in interstate commerce.
Authorities have not yet disclosed any potential motive behind the incident. As of Sunday, it remains unclear whether Soghomonian has obtained legal representation.
If Soghomonian is convicted, he could potentially face a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and be subject to a fine of up to $250,000.
In recent years, there has been a concerning increase in threats against members of Congress. This alarming trend was exemplified by an incident in May 2023, where two staff members who worked for Rep. Gerry Connolly were assaulted in the congressman’s district office in Virginia. Thankfully, although the injuries sustained were serious, they were deemed non-life-threatening, and both individuals were hospitalized for treatment.
I reached out to Sanders’ office for comment, and USA TODAY is also in the process of doing the same.
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