Suspect charged over arson at Sen. Bernie Sanders' office

A man was arrested and charged in connection to the arson at Sen. Bernie Sanders' Vermont office, police said. 

Shant Soghomonian, 35, was arrested Sunday and charged with using fire to damage Sanders' office building in Burlington, the Justice Department said. Officials did not publicly identify any motive behind the fire. 

Shoghomonian, who also uses the first name "Michael" and previously lived in the Northridge neighborhood of Los Angeles, has yet to have his initial court appearance scheduled.

Soghomonian entered the building where Sanders' office is located on Friday morning, and security camera footage shows him spraying a liquid near the office door and lighting it on fire before leaving, officials said. 

The fire damaged the office door and surrounding areas, and the building's sprinklers also discharged on several floors. 

Several employees were in Sanders' office at the time of the incident, but they were not physically injured, and no other injuries in the building were reported. 

If convicted, Soghomonian faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Follow Madeleine Hubbard on X or Instagram.