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Man accused of arson at Sen. Bernie Sanders' office facing federal charges

The man charged with setting fire to the door of Sen. Bernie Sanders' Burlington office is now facing a federal charge

Man accused of arson at Sen. Bernie Sanders' office facing federal charges

The man charged with setting fire to the door of Sen. Bernie Sanders' Burlington office is now facing a federal charge

FEEL SAFE AND COMFORTABLE. LIVE IN THE STUDIO, AMR, NBC5 NEWS. NEW TONIGHT AT 5. THE MAN CHARGED WITH SETTING A FIRE. AT THE DOOR OF SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS' OFFICE IN BURLINGTON... IS NOW FACING A FEDERAL CHARGE. 35-YEAR-OLD SHANT (sh-ant) SOGHOMONIAN IS BEING CHARGED WITH "MALICIOUS DAMAGE OF A COMMERCIAL BUILDING USED IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE." BACK ON APRIL 5- TH, THE 35-YEAR OLD ENTERED THE BUILDING ON CHURCH STREET AND WAS RECORDED ON VIDEO. USING LIGHTER FLUID TO IGNITE A FIRE AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE SENATOR SANDERS' OFFICE. NOBODY WAS THERE AT THE TIME. OTHER BUSINESSES IN THE BUILDING HAD TO BE EVACUATED. SOGHOMONIAN WAS ID'D IN THE VIDEO AND ARRESTED TWO DAYS. IN COURT TODAY, HE WAS ORDERED TO BE DETAINED UNTIL HIS NEXT COURT APPEARANCE NEXT WEEK.
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Man accused of arson at Sen. Bernie Sanders' office facing federal charges

The man charged with setting fire to the door of Sen. Bernie Sanders' Burlington office is now facing a federal charge

The man charged with setting fire to the door of Sen. Bernie Sanders' Burlington office is now facing a federal charge. Shant Soghomonian, 35, is being charged with the "malicious damage of a commercial building used in interstate commerce."On April 5, Soghomonian was recorded on video entering the Church Street building and using lighter fluid to light a fire at the entrance to Sen. Sanders' office. While Sanders was not in the office at the time, several employees as well as employees at other businesses in the building had to be evacuated.Soghomonian was identified in the video and arrested two days later.In court today, he was ordered to be held until his next court appearance next week. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison, and be fined up to $250,000.Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that there were employees in Sanders' office at the time of the fire.

The man charged with setting fire to the door of Sen. Bernie Sanders' Burlington office is now facing a federal charge. Shant Soghomonian, 35, is being charged with the "malicious damage of a commercial building used in interstate commerce."

On April 5, Soghomonian was recorded on video entering the Church Street building and using lighter fluid to light a fire at the entrance to Sen. Sanders' office. While Sanders was not in the office at the time, several employees as well as employees at other businesses in the building had to be evacuated.

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Soghomonian was identified in the video and arrested two days later.

In court today, he was ordered to be held until his next court appearance next week. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison, and be fined up to $250,000.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that there were employees in Sanders' office at the time of the fire.