Suspect arrested for arson of Bernie Sanders’ Vermont office

CNN
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Authorities arrested a man Sunday on suspicion of setting up an arson attack at Sen. Bernie Sanders’ office in Vermont last week, the Justice Department said.

Shant Sogomonian, 35, was charged Friday with arson with intent to damage a building in Burlington, according to a Department of Justice news release. The station said Sogomonian, who also goes by the name Michael, previously lived in Northridge, California.

According to court records cited by the Justice Department, Soghomonian entered the building Friday morning and went to the third floor, where an independent senator’s office is located.

“Security video captured Sogomonian spraying a liquid near the exterior door of the office and illuminating the area with a handheld lighter,” the news release said.

The man left through the stairs as the fire spread, the Justice Department said. The fire caused damage to the outside of the office door and the surrounding area and triggered sprinklers on multiple floors.

Several employees were in the prominent progressive senator’s office at the time of the fire, but it’s unclear how many others were in the building. The Justice Department said there were no reports of injuries.

The Burlington Police Department previously said the fire, which destroyed a door and part of the entryway, prevented “employees working in the office from exiting,” putting their lives at risk.

“We deeply appreciate the swift, professional, and coordinated efforts of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to respond to the fire at our office in Vermont on Friday. We also thank the many people who were in the office building at the time of the fire. I am also grateful that no one was injured,” Sanders said in a statement to CNN on Sunday.

He added, “Thank you for the outpouring of support and well wishes for me and my staff. I am proud to continue serving the people of Vermont during this difficult time.”

If convicted, Soghomonian could face five to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, according to the Justice Department, but his lawyer has not been identified. It is said that there is no.

Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney Stanak thanked law enforcement and partners for their efforts in apprehending the suspect.

“A special thank you to the Burlington Police Department detectives, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms investigators, and the United States Attorney’s Office, who played a critical role in quickly resolving this investigation,” said Mulvaney Stanak. . statement.

“My office has offered the support of the Burlington Community Justice Center to Senator Sanders’ staff and will continue to stay in close contact as my office deals with the fallout from this incident.” she said.

CNN’s Eileen Greif, Mary Kay Maloney, Carnita Iyer, Raja Razek contributed to this alert.