(RepublicanDaily.org) – Police have arrested a California man who allegedly tried to set fire to the Vermont office of Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders.
The suspect was identified as Michael Soghomonian, 35, who lives in Northridge, California. He was caught on CCTV cameras in the building where Sanders’ office is located, with footage showing him spraying a liquid on the bottom of the door to the office and the setting it alight with a lighter. The flames also prevented the seven staff members working in the office at the time from exiting the area. Senator Sanders was not at the office at the time of incident.
Fortunately, no one was hurt, and only the door of the office was damaged. Some parts of the building suffered water damage due to the activation of the structure’s sprinkler system.
Police and the fire department are treating the incident as an arson.
An investigation into the suspect revealed that he had been staying at a local hotel for roughly two weeks prior to launching the arson attack on the office of the former Democratic presidential aspirant. He was also found on CCTV cameras loitering around the premises close to Sanders’ office a day before and the day of the arson attack.
Soghomonian was arrested at the hotel he was staying in, but not before officers had to break down the door, which the suspect attempted to block with various pieces of furniture.
Investigators have yet to pin down a motive for the arson attack. The suspect is currently imprisoned at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans. No hearing date has been set as of press time and it is unknown if he has retained any sort of legal counsel.
If found guilty, the maximum sentence Soghomonian would face would be a two-decade stay in jail, as well as a fine, which can go as high as $250,000.
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