>>162751
Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli @USAttyEssayli - Today we are announcing the arrest of 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht on a criminal complaint charging him with maliciously starting what became the Palisades Fire in January.
The complaint alleges that Rinderknecht's started a fire in Pacific Palisades on New Year's Day - a blaze that eventually turned into one of the most destructive fires in Los Angeles history, causing death and widespread destruction.
Among the evidence that was collected from his digital devices was an image he generated on ChatGPT depicting a burning city.
While we cannot undo the damage and destruction that was done, we hope his arrest and the charges against him bring some measure of justice to the victims of this horrific tragedy.
Rinderknecht's initial appearance is scheduled for today at 1:30 p.m. EDT in U.S. District Court in Orlando. Rinderknecht is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
>>23709996 pb
https://x.com/USAttyEssayli/status/1975954598201536880

Adam Schiff @SenAdamSchiff - Ten months ago, the Palisades and Eaton fires devastated our communities, stole lives, livelihoods and homes, and broke the hearts of every Californian.
This arrest will not bring back homes, or loved ones, but bringing an alleged perpetrator to justice is nonetheless an important step in the healing process.
As we continue working to rebuild from this tragedy, I hope that today’s announcement continues us on the path towards closure for the families devastated by the Palisades fire. As ever, I remain committed to working with local, state and federal officials to ensure that California has the resources to recover and be better protected from future disasters.
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ABC News @ABC
JUST IN: A 29-year-old man is accused of igniting a fire in Los Angeles County that ultimately erupted into the Palisades Fire, the Department of Justice said. A dozen people were killed in the January blaze.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/arrest-made-connection-palisades-fire/story?id=126328318
https://x.com/SenAdamSchiff/status/1976113412594626824