Man charged in arson at Congressman’s office over TikTok ban

The back door of Congressman Glenn Grothman’s Fond du Lac office is charred because of a Sunday fire started with gasoline.

Responding officers were able to put it out quickly, and they found the accused arsonist standing there, watching the flames spread to the siding and door. He calmly explained he started the fire because he was mad about the federal TikTok ban.

Caden Stachowicz, 19, of Menasha, is now charged with arson, making terrorist threats, attempted burglary and criminal damage.

“The defendant sought out Rep. Grothman’s office in an effort to burn it down because Congressman Grothman voted ‘yes’ to force the sale of the social media app TikTok,” said Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney in court Wednesday.

According to the criminal complaint, it wasn’t a spontaneous decision. Stachowicz told police he stopped at a Kwik Trip in Menasha near his home to buy the gasoline, then drove 40 minutes to Fond du Lac to set the fire.

Read more: WISN