A teenager sets fire to the office of Congress allegedly for TikTok Ban

A 19-year-old Wisconsin man was arrested early Sunday morning for allegedly breaking into an office rented by a member of Congress in the city of Fond Du Lac. The unnamed man told police he was angry about the ban on TikTok, which banned users from opening the app starting late Saturday, but it came. back online on Sunday after promises by President-elect Donald Trump not to enforce the ban.

Police arrived at a structure fire at 525 N. Peters Avenue in the city of Fond Du Lac around 1:00 a.m. local time Sunday, according to the local news station. WMTV. The office is rented by US Representative Glenn Grothman, a Republican who represents the 6th District of Wisconsin and voted in favor of the TikTok “ban or divestment” law that had overwhelming bipartisan support.

The building was unoccupied when the fire started and no injuries were reported. First responders were able to keep the fire under control with fire extinguishers until firefighters arrived, according to local press. Channel 3000. Judging by the photo released by Rep. Grothman’s office, which has gone viral on social media, it appears that the fire darkened the outside of the door and damaged an air conditioning unit, as you can see above

The 19-year-old arson suspect is from Menasha, according to ABC affiliate WISN, which reports that he “admitted to starting the fire in response to recent talk of a TikTok ban.” That man has not yet been identified, but is being held on a charge of arson in the Fond du Lac County Jail.

“Acts of violence, in any form, are not tolerated, and we are committed to protecting the safety and well-being of our community. I am grateful for the quick response of our officers to help put down the fire and also to locate the suspect in this fire,” Aaron Goldstein, the police chief of Fond du Lac, said in a statement to the local news station. WISN.

Rep. Grothman has not released a statement on his social media platforms as yet X, YouTube, Facebookand Instagram but he told the local newspaper Reporter FDL that he is not sure what happened exactly.

“I still don’t know (what happened) other than someone tried to set fire to TikTok,” said Grothman, who, unlike some members of Congress, appears to have never had a TikTok account. .

The TikTok app went dark for US users on Saturday night, but was back online Sunday afternoon ET after incoming President Donald Trump said he would sign an executive order on Monday after he is inaugurated at noon delay the ban. Strangely, Trump has signaled that he wants the US federal government to own 50% of the app, though it’s not immediately clear how that would work.