Menasha man charged for starting fire at Wisconsin congressman’s office

A 19-year-old from Menasha was criminally charged Wednesday for allegedly setting fire to a Wisconsin congressman’s Fond du Lac office over the briefly enforced federal ban on TikTok.

Caiden Stachowicz made his initial court appearance Wednesday via Zoom from the Fond du Lac County Jail. He faces felony charges of arson, terrorist threats and attempted burglary, as well as a misdemeanor property damage charge. 

He is being held on a $500,000 cash bond.

On Sunday, Stachowicz started a fire at the Fond du Lac offices of U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Glenbeulah, according to a criminal complaint. As a Fond du Lac police officer worked to put out the fire shortly after 1 p.m. that afternoon, Stachowicz allegedly admitted to starting the fire because he didn’t like Grothman.

He told police he purchased gas and matches in Menasha and then drove to Fond du Lac looking for Grothman’s office, the complaint states.

Stachowicz allegedly tried to break into the building first but was unsuccessful. He then started a fire behind the building near an electrical unit, according to the complaint.

When police asked why Stachowicz wanted to burn the building, he told them it was because TikTok was being shut down by the U.S. government and Grothman voted “yes” on the legislation banning the popular video app under its current ownership.

“Caiden stated he believed the shutdown was against his constitutional
rights,” the complaint states. “Caiden said in the past he had done peaceful protests but believes that peace isn’t an option anymore, so he set fire to Congressman Grothman’s Office.”

TikTok briefly shut down over the weekend due to federal law signed last April that required the Chinese-owned company be sold to continue operating in the United States. But President Donald Trump on Monday signed an order pausing enforcement of the ban for 75 days.

In court Wednesday, Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney said Stachowicz “sought out” Grothman’s office “to burn it down” because the congressman voted in favor of forcing the sale of Tiktok.

“Nobody was physically injured as a result of the arson,” Toney said. “There is property damage. We’re still waiting on some of the dollar amounts that that may be.”

Grothman’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Earlier this week, he told WGBA-TV he believes the fire was started by someone “looking for attention.”

“If it wasn’t the TikTok issue that caused him to light a fire at my office, he would have found some other issue,” Grothman told the station. “I can’t think of any congressman who’s had their office attacked for something like that.”

During the court appearance, Toney requested the $500,000 cash bond with the condition that Stachowicz have no contact with Grothman unless via electronic means for official business, and that he not possess weapons or ammunition. 

He said the request was necessary for the protection of the public and to ensure Stachowicz makes future court appearances.

But attorney Michael Queensland, who represented Stachowicz at the hearing, said setting the cash bond that high was not warranted. He said the 19-year-old lives at home with his parents and siblings in Menasha and would be able to make it to court.

Fond du Lac County Circuit Court Judge Tricia Walker felt the $500,000 cash bond was appropriate with the conditions Toney proposed and required Stachowicz not possess fire starting materials.

“I think there is an issue of Mr. Stackowicz’s ability to return to court,” Walker said. “This has a Class C felony on it that includes significant potential incarceration. I also believe that there is a potential risk to the public.”