A man named Shant Soghomonian, 35, was charged with setting a fire outside the Vermont office of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. Soghomonian entered the building and went to Sanders’ third-floor office, where security footage showed him spraying a liquid on the door and setting it on fire. The building suffered some damage from the fire and sprinklers, but no one was injured during the incident. Sanders was not in the office at the time of the incident.
Soghomonian was arrested on a charge of using fire to damage a building used in interstate commerce. The motive behind the crime was unclear, and Soghomonian was detained and not available for comment. It is unknown if he has a lawyer, and an initial court appearance had not yet been scheduled. The crime carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The case was under investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies, including police departments in Burlington, Shelburne, and Williston, Vermont State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Capitol Police. The motive behind Soghomonian’s actions was not immediately clear, and it is unknown if there were any political motivations behind the incident.
The incident occurred outside the office of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent, on Friday, but Sanders was not in the office at the time. The building’s interior sustained damage from the fire and sprinklers, but no injuries were reported. The motive behind the crime remains unknown, and it is unclear whether Soghomonian had any personal grudge or political motive behind his actions.
Soghomonian was arrested and charged with using fire to damage a building used in interstate commerce, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The investigation was conducted by multiple law enforcement agencies to determine the motive behind the incident and ensure that justice is served. The incident has raised concerns about security and safety in government buildings, and measures may be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.
