MADISON, Wis. – A 19-year-old Wisconsin man has been charged with felony arson and several other offenses after allegedly setting fire to a congressman’s office in protest of the federal TikTok ban.
Caiden Stachowicz, from Menasha, was charged by Fond du Lac County prosecutors with felony arson, making terrorist threats, attempted burglary, and property damage. If convicted on all counts, Stachowicz could face more than 50 years in prison.
The incident occurred early on Sunday morning when a fire was reported outside the office of Republican U.S. Representative Glenn Grothman in Fond du Lac. Police arrived at the scene to find Stachowicz standing nearby. He allegedly admitted to starting the fire, citing his anger over Grothman’s vote in favor of a bill that would force TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, to sell its U.S. operation.
Stachowicz told officers he had bought gasoline and matches, intending to set the building on fire. He attempted to break into the office but was unsuccessful. Instead, he poured gasoline on an electrical box and around the building’s exterior, then ignited the fire. He said the motivation was to make a statement against the U.S. government’s actions regarding TikTok, which he believed violated his constitutional rights.
Although he said he did not want to hurt anyone, Stachowicz acknowledged his intent to disrupt the government building and expressed regret that the fire had not caused more damage.
Grothman’s office was spared significant harm, as firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze. Stachowicz is set to appear in court Wednesday morning.
This troubling act of violence highlights the intense emotions surrounding political issues, with Stachowicz’s actions underscoring the extreme consequences of frustration with governmental decisions.
