Shant “Michael” Soghomonian has pleaded not guilty to setting a fire at Sen. Bernie Sanders’ office earlier this month. After several rounds of delays, Soghomonian appeared in a Burlington federal courtroom for an official arraignment.
The 35-year-old pleaded not guilty to the federal charge of maliciously damaging by means of fire the building at One Church Street, a building used in interstate commerce and as a place of activity affecting interstate commerce. Soghomonian is the man who local, state, and federal authorities say set fire to the door of Sen. Sanders’ office on April 5. He was in court Tuesday to answer to the charges, but not before several days' worth of delays in his case.
It was a fast proceeding Tuesday afternoon as Soghomonian was in the courtroom for about 10 minutes.