A California man was arrested on Sunday on charges of arson to Senator Bernie Sanders’ Office in Burlington, Vermont, according to the Department of Justice.
Shant Soghomonian, also known as Michael Soghomonian, 35, previously of Northridge, California, was charged.
According to court records, Soghomonian entered the building at One Church Street in Burlington on the morning of April 5, 2024, and proceeded to the third floor, where the Vermont office of Senator Sanders is located.
A security video recorded Soghomonian spraying a liquid near the outer door of the office and then lighting the area with a handheld lighter.
A blaze quickly began while Soghomonian departed via a staircase. The resulting fire damaged the outside of the office door and surrounding areas, and the building sprinklers discharged on multiple floors.
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The Senator’s office was occupied by multiple employees who were not physically injured during the incident. It is not known how many other occupants were in the building, but no injuries were reported.
If convicted, Soghomonian faces a maximum possible penalty of not less than five years and not more than 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
“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,” Sanders said in a statement. “I am also thankful that none of the many people who were in the office building at the time of the fire were injured.”
“I appreciate the outpouring of support and well-wishes for me and my staff,” he added. “We are proud to be able to continue to serve Vermonters during these challenging times.”
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