Authorities have arrested a suspect in connection with a fire at Sen. Bernie Sanders' Vermont office that is being investigated as arson. Shant Soghomonian, 35, also known as Michael Soghomonian, previously of Northridge, California, was arrested Sunday on charges of using fire to damage a building in Burlington, Vermont, where Sanders' office is located, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The incident took place on Friday morning when Soghomonian allegedly entered the building and went to the third floor, where Sanders' Burlington office is situated. Security video footage shows the suspect spraying a liquid near the outer door of the office before igniting the area with a hand-held lighter, resulting in a blaze, the DOJ said.
The fire caused damage to the outside of the door to Sanders' office and surrounding areas, triggering sprinklers to discharge on multiple floors of the building. Although multiple employees of Sanders' were present in the office at the time, no physical injuries were reported during the incident. The number of other occupants in the building remains unknown, but no injuries have been reported, officials added.
In a statement released Sunday, Sanders expressed his gratitude for the swift response from law enforcement. "I am deeply grateful to the swift, professional, coordinated efforts of local, state, and federal law enforcement in response to the fire at my Vermont office on Friday," he said. "I am also thankful that none of the many people who were in the office building at the time of the fire were injured."
The senator also acknowledged the outpouring of support he and his staff have received, stating, "I appreciate the outpouring of support and well-wishes for me and my staff. We are proud to be able to continue to serve Vermonters during these challenging times."
On Friday, firefighters were dispatched to the building housing Sanders' sole congressional office in the state. They discovered "a fire in the vestibule between the elevator and the entrance door to [Sanders'] office," according to a news release from the fire department.
Kathryn Van Haste, Sanders' state director, confirmed in a statement on Friday that no staff members in the building were harmed during the incident. Sanders was not present in the building at the time of the fire.
Soghomonian's initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, he faces a potential penalty of five to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. It remains unclear whether Soghomonian has entered a plea.
Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak expressed her gratitude to law enforcement and partners for their efforts in apprehending the suspect. "A special thank you to Burlington Police Department detectives, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, as well as the U.S. Attorney's Office for the integral role they played in bringing swift resolution to this investigation," Mulvaney-Stanak said in a statement.
She also offered support to Sanders' staff, stating, "My office has offered the support of the Burlington Community Justice Center to Senator Sanders's staff, and we will continue to be in close communication as their office navigates the impacts of this incident."
The arson attack on Sanders' office has raised concerns about the safety of elected officials and their staff members. As the investigation continues, authorities will work to determine the motive behind the incident and ensure that appropriate measures are taken to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
