A suspect, Shant Soghomonian, was arrested on charges of arson in connection with a fire at Sen. Bernie Sanders’ Vermont office. Soghomonian allegedly entered the building and set fire to the outer door of Sanders’ office, causing damage to the surrounding areas and triggering sprinklers in the building to discharge. Multiple employees were in the office at the time of the incident, but no injuries were reported. Sanders expressed gratitude for the swift response of law enforcement and the support received following the incident.
Security footage captured Soghomonian spraying a liquid near the office door before igniting it with a hand-held lighter. Firefighters responded to the scene and found a fire in the vestibule of the building. Sanders’ state director confirmed that no staff members were harmed, and Sanders himself was not present during the incident. Soghomonian’s initial court appearance has not been scheduled, and he faces a potential penalty of five to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 if convicted. It remains unclear whether Soghomonian has entered a plea.
Sanders expressed gratitude for the quick and professional response of law enforcement to the fire at his Vermont office, as well as for the support received from the community. He stated that he and his staff were proud to continue serving Vermonters during challenging times. The incident at Sanders’ office was investigated as arson, and the suspect was arrested and charged in connection with the fire.
The fire at Sanders’ office caused damage to the building and triggered sprinklers to discharge on multiple floors. Security video captured Soghomonian setting fire to the office door with a hand-held lighter after spraying a liquid. The suspect, previously from California, was arrested and faces a potential prison sentence and fine if convicted. Sanders’ office confirmed that no staff members were physically harmed during the incident.
Sanders’ sole congressional office in Vermont was the target of the arson, with the fire occurring in the vestibule of the building where the office is located. Sanders’ state director confirmed that no staff members were present during the incident, and Sanders himself was not at the office at the time. The suspect, Soghomonian, has not yet entered a plea, and his initial court appearance has not been scheduled.
Overall, Sanders expressed his appreciation for the response of local, state, and federal law enforcement to the incident at his Vermont office. He thanked the community for their support and well-wishes following the fire. Soghomonian’s arrest and charges in connection with the arson investigation shed light on the incident, which caused damage to the building but resulted in no physical injuries to occupants.
