Man Arrested for Arson at Senator Bernie Sanders' Vermont Office

A man has been arrested and charged with federal arson after allegedly starting a fire at the Vermont office of Senator Bernie Sanders. The suspect, identified as Shant Soghomonian, also known as Michael Soghomonian, was apprehended on Sunday by authorities.

The building, located at One Church Street in Burlington, is used for interstate commerce, which necessitated the involvement of federal authorities in the prosecution of the alleged crime. The incident occurred on Friday, prompting a swift response from local officials.

Although no injuries were reported, the Senator's office had multiple employees inside when the incident took place. Security camera footage captured Soghomonian spraying a liquid near the outer door of Sanders' office on the third floor and subsequently igniting it with a handheld lighter. As a result, a blaze quickly erupted, causing damage to the exterior of the office door and surrounding areas. The building's sprinkler system activated across various floors, exacerbating the situation.

"We are grateful to the Burlington Fire and Police Departments who responded immediately today to a fire incident that took place in our office building," expressed Kathryn Van Haste, the state director for Sanders, in a statement to The Hill. "We are relieved that no one on our staff and, to our understanding, no one in the building was harmed."

The arrest of Soghomonian on a federal arson charge demonstrates the seriousness with which law enforcement is treating this incident. The motive behind the alleged arson remains unclear at this time, and further investigation is underway.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Vermont supervised the arrest and will continue to proceed with the prosecution. If found guilty, Soghomonian could face severe legal consequences for his actions.

The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of ensuring the safety and security of public officials and their offices. Authorities are working diligently to bring clarity to this case and provide justice for all those affected.