Alleged axman accused of vandalizing GOP senator s Fargo office spouted left-wing views, charges say
Thomas Alexander Starks, 30, is under federal criminal investigation, a U.S. prosecutor said Tuesday, Dec. 29. He was booked on state felony criminal mischief charges on Dec. 24 and released this Monday after posting bond, according to court records. 7:11 pm, Dec. 29, 2020 ×
Thomas Starks
FARGO A Lisbon, N.D., man accused of taking an ax to a Republican U.S. senator’s office windows in Fargo last week was very vocal about his left-leaning political views, according to court records.
Thomas Alexander Starks, 30, is under federal criminal investigation, accused of smashing two glass windows and an intercom system next to the door of Sen. John Hoeven’s office, U.S. Attorney Drew Wrigley told Forum News Service on Tuesday, Dec. 29. The federal prosecutor for North Dakota declined to say what federal charges Starks could face, if any.
Port: Ax attack on Hoeven office is what we get when we condone political violence
Too many Americans believe the political opposition is evil. It s a short hop and a skip from there to picking up an ax. 11:16 am, Dec. 30, 2020 ×
MINOT, N.D. Very few topics in the world of politics actually pit good versus evil.
Absolutism may make for solid, retweet-worthy hot takes or a nice rant on cable news, but there are very few absolutes to be found when it comes to actual policymaking.
The good guys versus bad guys stuff is great for clicks and ratings and political rallies and absolutely detrimental to sound policymaking.
The man who is accused of vandalizing North Dakota Sen. John Hoeven
Cass County charged Thomas Alexander Starks, claiming that he “willfully damaged tangible property of another, intentionally causing pecuniary loss in excess of two thousand dollars but not in excess of ten thousand dollars.”
Video of the attack on the office appears to show Starks walking up a set of stairs to a door carrying an ax and then smashing an office window before walking away.
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Prosecutors allege that Starks “willfully damaged office windows, a window frame, and an intercom system.”
Alex Finken, a spokesperson for Hoeven, told The Hill on Wednesday that staff discovered the vandalism on Monday morning.
Thomas Alexander Starks is charged with a felony count of criminal mischief. Written By: Alex Derosier | ×
Video given to the Fargo Police Department shows an ax-wielding man smashing the windows of Sen. John Hoeven s Fargo office. The damage was discovered Monday morning, Dec. 21. Photo courtesy of Fargo Police Department
FARGO Cass County prosecutors have filed charges against a man accused of vandalizing the Fargo office of Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., this week.
According to court documents, Thomas Alexander Starks is charged with criminal mischief for willfully causing $2,000-$10,000 of damage to property, a Class C felony.
On Monday, Dec. 21, Starks allegedly smashed the windows and an intercom system at Hoeven s office on the second floor of 123 Broadway N. in downtown Fargo. The smashed window was discovered Monday morning around 9 a.m.