Caiden Stachowicz, a 20-year-old from Menasha, Wisconsin, was sentenced to seven years in prison for setting fire to Republican Congressman Glenn Grothman's office. Fond du Lac County Circuit Judge Tricia Walker also ordered an additional seven years of extended supervision. The incident occurred on January 19, 2025.
Key Takeaways
Caiden Stachowicz received a seven-year prison sentence for setting fire to Rep. Glenn Grothman's office due to his opposition to legislation targeting TikTok. The incident occurred on January 19, 2025, and involved gasoline being poured on an electrical box outside the building.
- Caiden Stachowicz sentenced to seven years in prison with seven years of extended supervision for arson
- Arson attempt at Rep. Glenn Grothman's office motivated by opposition to TikTok legislation
- Stachowicz pleaded no contest to arson charge, avoiding trial
- No injuries reported during the incident
- Attorney attributes actions to mental health crisis
Stachowicz pleaded no contest to an arson charge in November, avoiding a trial. Prosecutors dropped burglary and property damage charges as part of the plea agreement. According to court records, Stachowicz told police he started the fire because he opposed Grothman's support for legislation requiring TikTok's Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell its U.S. operations.
The criminal complaint states that Stachowicz initially attempted to break into Grothman's office but failed. He then poured gasoline on an electrical box behind the building and around the front, lit a match, and watched it burn. The fire was reported at approximately 1 a.m., with police finding Stachowicz standing nearby.
Stachowicz expressed that he wanted to burn down the office because he believed the federal government's actions against TikTok violated his constitutional rights. He stated that Grothman voted for the shutdown but clarified that he did not intend to harm anyone inside the building.
The legislation in question was passed in April 2024, setting a deadline of January 19, 2025, for ByteDance to sell its U.S. operations. President Donald Trump issued multiple executive orders extending this deadline. TikTok recently finalized a deal to create an American version of the social video platform.
Danielle Gorsuch, Stachowicz's attorney, emphasized that the incident was the result of a mental health crisis. She noted that her client took precautions to ensure no one was present in the building during the arson attempt and expressed regret for his actions from the beginning. A spokesperson for Grothman's congressional office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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