Police in east-central Wisconsin arrested a teenager Sunday on suspicion of setting fire to a strip mall that rents space for a lawmaker’s district office over the lawmaker’s position on banning TikTok.
A 19-year-old suspected arsonist from Menasha set fire to a building housing the office of Republican Wisconsin Congressman Glenn Grossman at the Fond du Lac Police Department (FDLPD) early Sunday morning. suspect.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Grossman had voted to ban TikTok if Chinese owner ByteDance was unable to sell the app. reported.
Wisconsin teenager arrested on suspicion of arson at U.S. Rep. Glenn Grossman’s office after TikTok ban
A 19-year-old man set fire to a Fond du Lac congressman’s office to protest the ban on TikTok. No injuries were reported. The suspect has been charged with arson. pic.twitter.com/oEoXpue3S3
— NTC Report (@NTC_Report) January 19, 2025
FDLPD officers and Fond du Lac Fire Rescue received a report of the fire at approximately 1:02 a.m. and were able to contain the fire until first responders arrived and extinguished it, according to a statement from FDLPD. That’s what it means.
FDLPD officers located the suspect near a strip mall. The suspect “admitted to starting the fire in response to the recent TikTok ban story,” the FDLPD said in a statement.
Officers arrested the suspect and transported him to the Fond du Lac County Jail where he was charged with arson.
“Further information is expected to be released if criminal charges are filed by the District Attorney’s Office,” FDLPD said.
“We are relieved that no one was injured and no one was in the office at the time of the fire,” FDLPD Chief Aaron Goldstein said in a police statement. “Violence in any form will not be tolerated and we remain committed to protecting the safety and well-being of our community. The quick response of our officers helped put out the fire and search for the arson suspect. Thank you for your cooperation.”
Rep. Grossman Confirmed He said no one was injured and thanked police and firefighters for their quick response and efforts to contain the damage.
Some commenters online expressed surprise at the suspected arson. They opined that not only the suspect’s actions were inexcusable, but his motives were also dangerous. The suspect could face federal or hate crime charges, and since the app eventually restored service, he will not be able to use TikTok while in prison.
The Supreme Court unanimously supported On Friday, President Joe Biden signed into law April 24, 2024, which will ban TikTok in the United States starting Sunday. The Supreme Court ruled that the law does not violate the First Amendment rights of the popular social media app’s roughly 170 million users and is necessary for national security.
TikTok’s parent company ByteDance is Chinese-owned and has refused to sell the app. There are numerous allegations that TikTok illegally collects data on U.S. users, including minors, and acts as a propaganda mouthpiece for the Chinese Communist Party. (Related: Do you think TikTok is bad? Check out the latest Chinese app that’s driving American kids wild)
Some children and teens lobbied their respective legislators to oppose the ban. Some reportedly threatened to commit suicide.
President-elect Donald Trump called He hoped that the American people would respect the Supreme Court’s decision and that the president would decide on the issue soon. Trump too said He discussed the app and other issues with Chinese President Xi Jinping. appealed It’s Sunday when TikTok comes to the rescue after dark.
JUST IN: Donald Trump says he is “most likely” to give TikTok a 90-day extension to avoid a ban, saying an announcement is likely on Monday.
The comment was made in an interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker.
CNN’s Brian Stelter says he expects the app to turn on… pic.twitter.com/xctamR4Rrb
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 18, 2025
then playing cards said Immediately after taking office, he issued an executive order granting a moratorium on TikTok, allowing the U.S. to own 50% of the app based on its monetary value, potentially in a “deal to protect the security of our country.” Suggested. He also said he would not punish those enforcing the ban.
@tiktokOur response to the Supreme Court’s decision.♬ Original song – TikTok
TikTok announced It resumed service late Sunday and thanked President Trump for his intervention.
