A man confesses to burning down a congressman's district office due to the TikTok ban: police.
An office space leased by Congressman Glenn Grothman in Wisconsin is suspected to have been set on fire by a local man.
Authorities in Wisconsin are investigating after a man torched a congressman's district office following the temporary shutdown of TikTok in the US, according to officials.
U.S. Representative Glenn Grothman's office space was set on fire by a 19-year-old man from Menasha, who admitted to the crime.
At 1:01 a.m. on January 19, police and the City of Fond du Lac Fire Rescue were called to Grothman's office due to a suspected structure fire.
The arsonist was discovered near the strip mall shortly after the fire was extinguished by officers.
The man confessed to starting the fire "due to discussions about a possible TikTok ban."
Grothman voted for the TikTok divestment or "ban" bill.
Grothman took to X to respond to the alleged arson attack.
"The fire caused no injuries and the damage has been controlled," he stated. "Thank you to the FDL firefighters and police officers for your prompt action."
Fond du Luc Police Chief Aaron Goldstein stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that they were relieved no one was injured and the office was unoccupied during the fire. Acts of violence are not tolerated, and they remain committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of their community.
"Our officers' quick actions in extinguishing the fire and finding the arson suspect are something I am grateful for."
The suspect is being held at the Fond du Lac County Jail and a charge of arson is being referred to the Fond du Lac County District Attorney's Office, officials stated.
TikTok was contacted by Planet Chronicle Digital for comment on the alleged arson attack.
TikTok announced it was resuming operations in the U.S. on Sunday following President-elect Trump's pledge to sign an executive order extending the app's operations on Inauguration Day.
On Saturday, the Chinese-owned social media platform was shut down following the Supreme Court's decision to uphold a law prohibiting its use in the United States if it is not sold locally.
Following Saturday's blackout, U.S. users were able to regain access to the app, and by Sunday afternoon, a new message crediting Trump appeared to users.
"TikTok is back in the U.S. thanks to President Trump's efforts. We appreciate your patience and support."
On Sunday, Trump posted on TRUTH Social that he urged companies not to keep TikTok in the dark.
"The president-elect announced that he will issue an executive order on Monday to delay the implementation of the law's restrictions, allowing time for a deal to be reached to safeguard national security. The order will also state that no company will be held liable for assisting in keeping TikTok operational prior to the order."
Trump stated that Americans should be able to view the Inauguration on Monday, in addition to other events and discussions.
His Sunday post did not specify the date when the extension would start or the duration of its implementation.
Planet Chronicle Digital's Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Planet Chronicle Digital and Fox Business. If you have story tips or ideas, you can send them to [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]).
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