TeamDML offers insights, opinions, podcasts, videos and other forms of content intended to educate and better explain trending news that is made available to the public by third parties. In this particular case, we refer to an excerpt from ABCNews.GO.com:
Federal charges have been filed against a 35-year-old man who allegedly set fire to the door of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ office in Burlington, Vermont, while seven staff members were working inside, police and prosecutors said.
Shant Soghomonian, formerly of Northridge, California, was arrested on Sunday after investigators reviewed surveillance camera footage that captured him allegedly spraying lighter fluid on the outer door of Sanders’ office in downtown Burlington, according to a criminal complaint filed in the case.
The fire unfolded around 10:45 a.m. Friday outside Sanders’ third-floor Church Street office, which is in a building that is also used in interstate commerce, U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest said in a statement.
Although Sen. Sanders, a socialist, was not in his third-floor office at the time, seven members of his staff were there, and other offices in the same building were also occupied.
Police say surveillance footage shows a suspect entering the building, going up to the third floor, then spraying lighter fluid on or near the door of Sanders’ office, lighting it on fire, and fleeing the building.
Soghomonian had reportedly been staying at a La Quinta Inn hotel in South Burlington for several weeks, and had kept renewing his stay by one of two days at a time. When police released the surveillance footage in their search for the suspect, hotel staff then recognized him, and he was arrested around 4 a.m. Sunday at the hotel.
The arrest was not without some drama, as Soghomonian reportedly tried to block his hotel room door with “heavy items,” prompting police to force the door open.
In a press release, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Shant Soghomonian (also known as Michael Soghomonian), 35, previously of Northridge, California was arrested on April 7, 2024,
“If convicted, Soghomonian faces a maximum possible penalty of not less than 5 years and not more than 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000,” the press release states.
Suspect Arrested in Arson at Burlington Office of Senator Sanders https://t.co/u51Uy1n4RQ
— U.S. Attorney VT (@USAO_VT) April 7, 2024
The report does not clarify where Soghomonian was born, or why he is known by two different first names.
The suspect, Shant Soghomonian, was staying at the Inn in Burlington. He kept renewing his hotel stay by one or two days, which is why the hotel manger recognized him on the news. Here’s images from the security camera of the arson and the damage. 2/2 pic.twitter.com/DV0RHUicDr
— Seamus Hughes (@SeamusHughes) April 8, 2024
But wait… there’s more! According to FEC data, Soghomonian was actually a donor to Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign.
Shant Soghomonian gave small donations to Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign. https://t.co/XckbG47X8T pic.twitter.com/RsKhd0JACZ
— star gazer (@MountainsStars) April 8, 2024
Shant Soghomonian, 35, also known as Michael Soghomonian, previously of Northridge, California, was arrested Sunday on charges of using fire to damage a Bernie Sanders office building in Burlington, Vermont. pic.twitter.com/NSAKMTdWlv
— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) April 8, 2024
Seen this man around Burlington, Vermont? Police are asking for assistance in identifying this suspect in connection to a fire at Sen. Bernie Sanders’ office. A motive is unclear. pic.twitter.com/RALcX8TpjQ
— Madeleine Hubbard (@MadeleineHubb) April 7, 2024
Federal charges were filed Sunday against a 35-year-old man who allegedly set fire to the door of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ office in Burlington, Vermont, while staff was working inside, police and prosecutors said. https://t.co/yAcpw77CeL
— ABC News (@ABC) April 7, 2024
To get more information about this article, please visit ABCNews.GO.com. To weigh in, leave a comment below.
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