Man arrested for setting fire to U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ office

A man was charged with setting a fire outside U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ Vermont office on Sunday, federal prosecutors said.

Officials said Shant Soghomonian, 35, formerly of Northridge, Calif., entered the building on Friday and went to Sanders’ third-floor office, where surveillance video showed him spraying liquid on the door and set it on fire.

The fire and sprinklers dumped water on the area, causing some damage to the interior of the building, but no one was injured. Sanders, an independent, was out of the office at the time.

Nikolas Kerest, the U.S. attorney for Vermont, said in a statement that Sogmonian was arrested Sunday on charges of arson that damaged a building in interstate commerce.

The motive remains unclear. Sogmonian was detained on Sunday and could not be reached for comment. Officials said it was unclear whether he had an attorney and a time for his initial court appearance had not yet been set.

The offense carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

The case was investigated by police departments in Burlington, Shelburne and Williston; Vermont State Police; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the U.S. Capitol Police, officials said.