Judge Sentences Wisconsin Man to 7 Years for Arson at GOP Rep’s Office Over TikTok
A Wisconsin man who set fire outside a Republican congressman’s office after becoming angry over TikTok legislation has been sentenced to prison.
Caiden Stachowicz, 20, was sentenced Thursday to seven years in prison and seven years of extended supervision for the arson targeting the office of U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman in Fond du Lac, according to court records and Associated Press reporting.
The case drew national attention because investigators say Stachowicz told police the attack was motivated by Grothman’s support for federal action against TikTok’s Chinese parent company.
According to a criminal complaint, the fire occurred around 1 a.m. on Jan. 19, 2025, when police responded to flames outside Grothman’s district office and found Stachowicz nearby. Authorities say he admitted starting the fire after attempting to break into the building but failing to shatter a window.
Investigators said he then poured gasoline on an electrical box and around parts of the building before lighting the fire.
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Stachowicz pleaded no contest to a felony arson charge in November, and prosecutors dropped burglary and property damage charges as part of the plea agreement.
“Political violence isn’t a Republican or Democrat issue — it’s an American issue,” Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney said in a statement.
Prosecutors said the defendant told police he was upset that Grothman supported legislation requiring TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, to sell its U.S. operations amid national security concerns.
The lawmaker backed the measure in 2024 as Congress debated whether the social media platform posed risks due to its Chinese ownership.
Authorities said the fire caused about $15,000 in damage, and the court ordered Stachowicz to pay restitution and undergo mental health treatment as part of his sentence.
The sentence closes the criminal case, though officials say the investigation highlighted growing concerns about threats and violence targeting public officials.
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