Teen Sets Fire to Congressman’s Office Over TikTok Ban

FOND DU LAC, Wis. – A 19-year-old man was arrested early Sunday after allegedly setting fire to a strip mall housing U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman‘s district office in Fond du Lac. The suspect, from Menasha, admitted to starting the fire in response to recent discussions about banning TikTok, according to authorities.

The Fond du Lac Police Department and Fire Rescue responded to the scene at 525 N. Peters Ave. around 1 a.m. after receiving reports of a fire. The blaze, which began outside the building, damaged the exterior siding and an air conditioning unit. No injuries were reported, as the building was unoccupied at the time.

Police Chief Aaron Goldstein stated, “We are relieved that no one was injured and the office was unoccupied at the time of the fire. Acts of violence, in any form, are not tolerated, and we remain committed to protecting the safety and well-being of our community.”

The suspect was found near the scene and admitted to starting the fire, citing frustration over the TikTok ban. He is being held at the Fond du Lac County Jail, and charges of arson are being referred to the Fond du Lac County District Attorney’s Office.

Rep. Grothman, who was among the bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives that voted to ban TikTok unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sold the app, confirmed the fire was contained to the building’s exterior. “I don’t even know yet what happened other than somebody tried to set a fire over TikTok,” Grothman said in a brief interview.

The TikTok ban went into effect over the weekend after the Supreme Court sided with national security concerns about the app. President-elect Donald Trump has indicated he will work to stall the ban, which is set to take effect Monday.

The investigation remains active, and authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Fond du Lac Police Department or the Crime Alert line, where callers can remain anonymous.