Man Charged with Setting Fire Outside Sen. Bernie Sanders' Vermont Office

BURLINGTON, Vt. - A 35-year-old man, Shant Soghomonian, has been charged with setting a fire outside the office of U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders in Vermont. The incident occurred on Friday, when Soghomonian entered the building and proceeded to Sanders' third-floor office. Security footage revealed that he sprayed a liquid on the door and set it ablaze.

Fortunately, no one was injured in the blaze, but the interior of the building did sustain some damage from the fire and the subsequent activation of sprinklers. Senator Sanders, who is an independent, was not present in the office at the time of the incident.

On Sunday, Soghomonian was taken into custody and is facing charges of using fire to damage a building used in interstate commerce, as stated by Nikolas Kerest, the U.S. attorney for Vermont. The motive behind the arson attack remains unclear, and Soghomonian has not yet been reached for comment. It is still unknown whether or not he has legal representation, and an initial court appearance has yet to be scheduled.

The investigation into the incident has involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the police departments of Burlington, Shelburne, and Williston, as well as the Vermont State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Capitol Police.

As this story develops, further details about the motive and potential consequences for Shant Soghomonian will likely emerge.