Suspect involved in fire outside U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ Vermont office to remain detained, judge says

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — The man accused of starting a fire outside independent U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ Vermont office earlier this month will remain detained pending prosecution, a federal judge ordered Thursday.

Shant Michael Soghomonian was indicted by a grand jury for maliciously damaging or attempting to damage and destroy by fire a building used in interstate commerce, according to the indictment filed with the court. Soghomonian, 35, has not yet been brought to justice.

Surveillance video shows the man throwing liquid on April 5 at the bottom of a door to Sanders’ third-floor office in Burlington and setting it on fire with a lighter, according to an affidavit filed by a special agent with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol. , Tobacco, firearms and explosives.

The motive remains unclear and Sanders was not in the office at the time.

Seven employees working in the office were able to escape unhurt. The interior of the building was damaged by the fire and water sprinklers.

Soghomonian, who was previously from Northridge, Calif., had been staying at a South Burlington hotel for nearly two months and was seen outside Sanders’ office the day before and the day of the fire, according to the agent’s report special.

Prosecutors argued that Soghomonian poses a danger to the community and a flight risk and should remain detained. A phone message was left for his public defender and was not immediately returned.