A 35-year-old man, identified as Shant Soghomonian, also known as Michael Soghomonian, was arrested and charged with arson related to a fire intentionally set outside Senator Bernie Sanders’ office in Burlington, Vermont, as announced by the Justice Department.
Soghomonian, previously of Northridge, Calif., was charged with using fire to damage the building housing Sanders’ office, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Vermont. An initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin Doyle is pending.
The incident occurred early Friday, prompting the Burlington Fire Department to respond to a fire at One Church Street in Burlington, where Sanders’ office is located on the third floor. Firefighters found a fire in the vestibule, which was extinguished, and the surrounding offices were evacuated.
Bernie Sanders (Credits: CNN)
No injuries were reported, and Sanders was not present in his office during the incident. Federal prosecutors allege that Soghomonian entered the building, went to the third floor, and was recorded on security footage spraying a liquid near the outer door of the office before igniting it with a handheld lighter.
The resulting fire damaged the outside of the office door and surrounding areas, activating the building’s sprinkler system, which largely extinguished the fire by the time firefighters arrived. There was moderate water damage to the door of Sanders’ office and significant water damage to the third floor and below.
Soghomonian faces a maximum possible penalty of not less than 5 years and not more than 20 years in prison, along with a fine of up to $250,000, according to U.S. officials. Authorities extended thanks to the Burlington Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Vermont State Police for their involvement in the investigation.
As of Sunday afternoon, Sanders had not yet commented on the fire or the arrest.
