Suspect arrested in arson attack at Sen. Bernie Sander’s office

Federal charges have been filed against a 35-year-old man who allegedly set the door of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ office in Burlington, Vermont, on fire while seven employees worked inside, police and prosecutors said .

Shant Soghomonian, formerly of Northridge, Calif., was arrested Sunday after investigators reviewed surveillance camera footage showing him spraying lighter fluid on the exterior door of Sanders’ office at the center -city of Burlington, according to a criminal complaint filed in the case.

The fire broke out around 10:45 a.m. Friday outside Sanders’ office on the third floor of Church Street, which is in a building also used for interstate commerce, U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest said in a statement.

Sanders was not in the office at the time of the fire, but seven members of his staff in the office and other offices in the building were occupied, including a Chase bank, according to the criminal complaint.

“A large fire destroyed the door and part of the vestibule, preventing the exit of staff members working in the office and putting their lives in danger,” according to a statement from the Burlington Police Department.

Investigators found a container of lighter fluid near the door, according to the criminal complaint.

Fire crews from the Burlington Fire Department quickly responded to the fire and extinguished the flames, officials said.

“In addition to the fire damage to Senator Sanders’ door and vestibule, water from the sprinkler systems caused significant damage to this space and other areas of the building,” police said.

Police say surveillance video shows the suspect entering the building and heading toward the third floor.

“Soghomonian was recorded on security video spraying a liquid near the exterior door of the office and then lighting the area with a hand-held lighter. A fire quickly broke out as Soghomonian left down a flight of stairs” , Kerest said.

Soghomonian, who also goes by the name Michael Soghomonian, was arrested around 4 a.m. Sunday at a La Quinta Inn hotel in South Burlington, where staff recognized him from surveillance footage released by police as guest who had been staying at the hotel for several weeks, according to an unsealed search warrant affidavit filed in the case.

Soghomonian was taken into custody after allegedly trying to block his hotel room door with “heavy objects,” prompting police to force the door open, according to the search warrant affidavit.

The motive for the incident remains under investigation, according to police.

The suspect was accused of using fire to damage a building used in interstate commerce and as a place of activity affecting interstate commerce, according to a federal complaint.

If convicted of these charges, Soghomonian could be sentenced to 5 to 20 years in federal prison and fined up to $250,000, according to Kerest.

It was unclear Sunday whether Soghomonian had retained a lawyer. The suspect is awaiting his first appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle, officials said.

“I am deeply grateful for the prompt, professional and coordinated efforts of local, state and federal law enforcement in response to Friday’s fire at my Vermont office,” Sanders said in a statement. “I am also grateful that none of the many people who were in the office building at the time of the fire were injured. I appreciate the outpouring of support and best wishes for me and my staff. We are proud to be able to continue to serve Vermonters during these difficult times.