Sen. Bernie Sanders' Vermont office targeted by alleged arsonist

Sen. Bernie Sanders doesn't make the headlines like he once did, but that changed this week after it was revealed that one of his offices was targeted by a potential arsonist.

According to NBC News, police were searching for a suspected arsonist who allegedly set fire to his Burlington-based office -- his only congressional office in the state of Vermont.

The outlet noted:

Firefighters were dispatched Friday morning to the building that houses the independent senator's only congressional office in the state. They found "a fire in the vestibule between the elevator and the entrance door to [Sanders'] office," the fire department said in a news release.

Local police noted that an "unknown male subject entered the vestibule" of Sanders' office and then "sprayed an apparent accelerant on the entrance door."

"He then lit the accelerant and fled," a statement from local police read. It added that a "significant fire engulfed the door and part of the vestibule, impeding the egress of staff members who were working in the office and endangering their lives."

Luckily, nobody was injured in the arson attempt.

The Burlington Fire Department noted, "The fire was extinguished, and the Senator's office and surrounding offices were searched and cleared of occupants."

Sen. Bernie Sanders's office in Vermont caught fire. Arson is suspected, but the motive is unclear https://t.co/IYM5rYo2qC

— The Associated Press (@AP) April 6, 2024

The building that houses his office suffered some water damage, and police noted that the door to his office was burned.

Sanders’ state director Kathryn Van Haste released a statement regarding the alleged arson attempt.

"We are grateful to the Burlington Fire and Police Departments who responded immediately today to a fire incident that took place in our office building," said Van Haste in a statement. "We are relieved that no one on our staff and, to our understanding, no one in the building was harmed."

Given it was a sitting senator's office that was targeted, Van Haste noted that U.S. Capitol Police and the Senate Sergeant at Arms are currently coordinating with local law enforcement.

Authorities are investigating the incident and do not yet have a motive or a suspect as of this writing.

According to NPR, "Police released a grainy photo of a man wearing an orange beanie, dark jacket, white Nike sneakers and what appears to be a tote bag."