Arson Update with NEW Footage: Three Conservative Offices Targeted in Apparent Arson

The offices of Center of the American Experiment were targeted by arsonists over the weekend, resulting in significant fire damage to the building. The fire is being investigated as a deliberate act of arson by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and the Hennepin County Fire Investigation team.

The offices of two other conservative organizations, the Upper Midwest Law Center (UMLC) and TakeCharge, were also targeted in the fire. “The fires obviously were set by someone,” said John Hinderaker, president of Center of the American Experiment. “They targeted conservative organizations, they didn’t firebomb the chiropractors or psychologists or the Manufacturers Alliance. We are cooperating with the FBI to try to identify the perpetrators.”

The fires occurred around 2:00 am on Sunday morning and were started outside the first-floor offices of American Experiment and TakeCharge, and in the third-floor offices of UMLC. The second floor has no visible fire damage. The three-story building houses a variety of small businesses in addition to the three conservative policy organizations.

American Experiment staff is currently working remotely while arrangements are made for alternate office space. Judging by the damage from the fire, it will take months to repair the building once the arson investigation is complete.

“This firebombing will not slow us down — American Experiment’s work for freedom is not dependent on a bricks-and-mortar location,” added Hinderaker. “In fact, we launched a new campaign today opposing Gov. Walz’s new fuel standards that are more extreme, and more expensive, than even those of California, Oregon, and Washington.”