Teen Sets Fire to Congressman’s Office During TikTok Protest

In a lively weekend of events, a teenager from Menasha, Wisconsin, found himself in hot water after allegedly setting fire to a strip mall that housed the district office of Republican Representative Glenn Grothman. The young man, just 19 years old, reportedly confessed to igniting the blaze as a form of protest against Grothman’s support for a proposed TikTok ban.

The police in Fond du Lac, along with the City of Fond du Lac Fire Rescue, responded to the fire around 1:02 a.m. on Sunday. Fortunately, the quick action of emergency responders ensured that the flames were contained and extinguished without any injuries reported.

The suspect was apprehended not far from the scene. According to a statement from the Fond du Lac Police Department, he admitted to starting the fire, citing his opposition to the TikTok ban as his motive. Now, he faces charges of arson and is being held at the Fond du Lac County Jail. The department mentioned that more details might emerge if a criminal complaint is filed by the District Attorney’s Office.

Chief Aaron Goldstein of the Fond du Lac Police Department was relieved 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,” he said, lauding the swift response of the officers and firefighters.

Representative Grothman, whose office was unoccupied at the time of the fire, expressed gratitude to the first responders for their prompt actions. The arson incident underscores the rising tensions surrounding the federal government’s move to ban TikTok, a decision that has sparked widespread debate and protests.

On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a law signed by President Joe Biden in April 2024, which would ban TikTok in the United States unless its Chinese owner, ByteDance, divested from the app. The court found that the law did not infringe upon First Amendment rights, pointing to national security concerns related to allegations that TikTok illegally harvested user data and acted as a propaganda tool for the Chinese Communist Party.

Grothman, a supporter of the TikTok ban in Congress, is among several lawmakers who have faced criticism from TikTok users. The app boasts around 170 million American users, many of whom have voiced their dissatisfaction with the ban.

Amid this backdrop, some online commentators noted the irony of the suspect’s alleged actions. They pointed out that he could face federal charges or hate crime allegations, potentially barring him from accessing TikTok while incarcerated.

In the political arena, President-elect Donald Trump addressed the TikTok ban over the weekend, urging Americans to respect the Supreme Court’s decision. He shared 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 offer a reprieve for TikTok. His proposal includes a deal requiring 50% American ownership of the app to safeguard national security while allowing it to continue operating in the U.S.

Following Trump’s announcement, TikTok stated that it was in the process of restoring its service and thanked the President-elect for his intervention. “We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers,” TikTok noted in a statement.

The incident in Wisconsin highlights the ongoing debates around the TikTok ban, as lawmakers continue to grapple with balancing national security concerns with the public’s demand for the app’s availability. As the country transitions to new leadership, the enforcement of the ban and Trump’s proposed executive order remain key issues to watch.

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Joe Messina

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