A man identified as Michael Shoghomonian was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of starting a fire at the office of Senator Bernie Sanders in Burlington, Vermont, according to reports. It is alleged that an accelerant was ignited in the office entrance, causing a fire that was rapidly detected in the atrium between the elevator and the office entrance. Shoghomonian then reportedly escaped the scene.
Soon after the fire broke out, it engulfed the door and a portion of the atrium, trapping some of the staff members inside the office. The Burlington Fire Department confirmed that the sprinkler system was activated, helping to put out most of the blaze.
The building, said to be registered as a national historic site in Burlington, was duly evacuated by the Fire and Police Departments, not just from Bernie Sanders’ office but also the surrounding offices. Notably, Senator Sanders was not present during the incident.
Shoghomonian’s identity was later confirmed by a local community member, leading to his arrest. A local publication, VTdigger, stated that a staff member at the Inn at Burlington was able to recognize the man from the security footage, as Shoghomonian had stayed there for several weeks.
The event triggered a significant response from multiple law enforcement agencies, including Burlington, Shelburne, and Williston Police Departments; Vermont State Police; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and U.S. Capitol Police. Charges for arson against a political office are grave; if found guilty, Shoghomonian could be facing up to 20 years in prison and fines exceeding $250,000.
Since the assault on the national capitol on January 6, 2021, growing concerns have been raised about the threat of domestic terrorism towards government officials. This incident amplifies the magnitude of such threats and questions about effective ways of dealing with them.
Senator Sanders, an independent long-serving legislator in the US Senate, has already participated in two instances of presidential candidacy in past Democratic primaries.