A teenager in east-central Wisconsin was arrested Sunday for allegedly setting fire to a strip mall housing the district office of Republican Representative Glenn Grothman.
The 19-year-old suspect from Menasha reportedly admitted to starting the fire in protest of Grothman’s support for a proposed TikTok ban.
According to the Fond du Lac Police Department (FDLPD), officers and the City of Fond du Lac Fire Rescue responded to the fire at approximately 1:02 a.m. on Sunday.
JUST IN: A 19-year-old was arrested after setting fire to Republican Rep. Glenn Grothman’s office in Wisconsin.
Police say he cited the tiktok ban as his motive for starting the fire.
Grothman voted in favor of forcing ByteDance to divest from Chinese ownership or face a ban. pic.twitter.com/nGkSX2p9Ki
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 19, 2025
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Emergency responders were able to contain and extinguish the flames, which fortunately caused no injuries.
The suspect was apprehended near the scene. “The suspect admitted to starting the fire in response to recent talks of a TikTok ban,” the FDLPD stated.
The suspect has been taken to the Fond du Lac County Jail and charged with arson.
“More information is anticipated to be released if and when a criminal complaint is filed by the District Attorney’s Office,” the department added.
FDLPD Chief Aaron Goldstein expressed relief that no one was hurt during the incident.
“Acts of violence, in any form, are not tolerated, and we remain committed to protecting the safety and well-being of our community,” Goldstein said.
He also praised the swift response of officers and firefighters.
Rep. Grothman confirmed that his office was unoccupied at the time of the fire and thanked first responders for their quick actions.
The arson comes amid heightened tensions over the federal government’s move to ban TikTok.
On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a law signed by Joe Biden in April 2024 that would ban TikTok in the U.S. starting Sunday unless its Chinese owner, ByteDance, divested from the app.
The court ruled the law did not violate First Amendment rights, citing national security concerns over allegations that TikTok illegally harvested user data and acted as a propaganda tool for the Chinese Communist Party.
Grothman, who supported the TikTok ban in Congress, was one of many lawmakers targeted by criticism from users of the app, which has approximately 170 million American users.
Some online commenters noted the irony of the suspect’s alleged actions, pointing out that he could face federal charges or hate crime allegations, potentially preventing him from accessing TikTok while incarcerated.
President-elect Donald Trump addressed the TikTok ban during the weekend, urging Americans to respect the Supreme Court’s decision.
He revealed that he had spoken with Chinese President Xi Jinping about TikTok and related issues.
On Sunday, Trump announced plans to issue an executive order after his inauguration to provide a reprieve for TikTok.
He proposed a deal requiring 50% American ownership of the app to safeguard national security while preserving its service.
TikTok later announced it was restoring its service and thanked Trump for his intervention.
“We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers,” TikTok wrote in a statement.
STATEMENT FROM TIKTOK:
In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170…
— TikTok Policy (@TikTokPolicy) January 19, 2025
The incident in Wisconsin highlights the growing tensions surrounding the TikTok ban, which has sparked protests and debates across the country.
Lawmakers continue to grapple with balancing national security concerns with public demand for the app’s availability.
Meanwhile, enforcement of the ban and Trump’s proposed executive order remain key issues as the country transitions to new leadership.
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