A man has been charged with setting a fire outside the Vermont office of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, federal prosecutors announced on Sunday. The incident occurred when the man, identified as a 35-year-old from California, entered the building on Friday and proceeded to Sanders' third-floor office. Security footage revealed that he sprayed a liquid on the door and ignited it.
Although the fire caused some damage to the building's interior and triggered sprinklers to douse the area with water, fortunately, no injuries were reported as Sanders was not present in the office at the time of the incident.
The suspect was arrested on Sunday and is facing a charge of using fire to damage a building used in interstate commerce. The motive behind the act remains unclear, and the individual is currently in custody. It is unknown whether he has legal representation at this time, and an initial court appearance is pending.
If convicted, the accused could face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The investigation into the case involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including police departments in Burlington, Shelburne, and Williston, Vermont State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as well as the U.S. Capitol Police.
