A 19-year-old Wisconsin man has been charged with multiple counts, including arson, after allegedly attempting to burn down a congressman's office in Fond du Lac. The suspect, identified as a resident of Menasha, reportedly told police that he targeted the office due to his dissatisfaction with the federal TikTok ban.
The Fond du Lac County District Attorney filed a complaint against the individual, accusing him of felony arson, making terrorist threats, attempted burglary, and property damage. If convicted on all counts, the suspect could face more than 50 years in prison.
The incident unfolded when a police officer responded to a fire outside Republican U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman's office in the early hours of Sunday. The officer found the suspect at the scene and, while extinguishing the flames, the suspect allegedly admitted to starting the fire because of his dislike for Grothman.
During questioning at the police department, the suspect confessed to purchasing gas and matches with the intention of setting fire to the office. Unable to break into the building, he resorted to pouring gas around the premises and igniting it. The suspect cited Grothman's vote in favor of the TikTok shutdown as his motive for the arson attempt, claiming it violated his constitutional rights.
Despite his actions, the suspect stated that he did not intend to harm anyone inside the building and did not wish to cause physical harm to Grothman. He expressed frustration over the government's decision to shut down TikTok and indicated a shift from peaceful protests to more disruptive actions.
The incident occurred amidst the backdrop of the temporary shutdown of TikTok, which was later rescinded following an executive order by then-President-elect Donald Trump. Grothman, the targeted congressman, has not yet issued a public statement in response to the charges.
