Arson Attack on Sanders’ Office Lands California Man Behind Bars

Clear Facts

• A 35-year-old man, Shant Soghomonian, has been arrested in relation to an arson attack on Senator Bernie Sanders’ office in Burlington, Vermont.
• Soghomonian is accused of using fire to damage a building used in interstate commerce, which houses Sanders’ office on the third floor.
• If found guilty, Soghomonian could face a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, along with a fine of up to $250,000.

Shant Soghomonian, a 35-year-old man originally from Northridge, California, has been detained in relation to the fire at Senator Bernie Sanders’ office in Vermont. His arrest was announced in an official press release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont.

Soghomonian is charged with using fire to damage a building at One Church Street in Burlington, which houses Senator Sanders’ office and is utilized for interstate commerce and activities.

According to the release, security footage recorded Soghomonian entering the building, moving to the third floor where Senator Sanders’ office is located, and using a handheld lighter to ignite a liquid near the office door.

Soghomonian reportedly fled via a staircase as the fire spread, damaging the exterior of the office’s doorway and surrounding areas while activating the building’s sprinkler system on multiple floors.

The press release confirmed that several employees were in the Senator’s office at the time, though none were physically hurt. There have been no reports of any injuries from other occupants of the building.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont outlined the possible legal ramifications for Soghomonian, stating that if convicted, he could face a prison sentence ranging from five to 20 years, and a fine of up to $250,000.

As of the press release, an initial hearing before a U.S. magistrate judge was yet to be scheduled, and Soghomonian’s legal representation had not been identified.

During the initial manhunt, authorities sought public assistance in identifying a man seen in a photo wearing a hat, dark jacket, and long pants.

At the time of the incident, Senator Sanders was not in Vermont but in Los Angeles, where he was supporting hotel workers demanding improved pay and working conditions.

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