A man was charged with arson and other crimes Wednesday for setting fire to a 50-foot (15-meter) Christmas tree in front of Fox News headquarters in midtown Manhattan, police said — but was soon released scotfree without bail thanks to New York’s liberal laws.
Suspect Craig Tamanaha denied responsibility, hurled obscenities at reporters, and begged for cigarettes outside the courthouse after his release, The New York Post reported. He also allegedly exposed himself outside the courthouse where the Ghislaine Maxwell trial is being held last week.
The massive artificial tree outside of the News Corp. building that houses Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Post caught fire shortly after midnight, police said.
Fox News star Tucker Carlson said the arson attack was nothing short of a hate crime because it destroyed a symbol of Christianity during one of the holiest holidays of the year — but predicted the Biden administration would be silent on the crime.
Imagine the outrage if someone had torched a Koran in Times Square during Ramadan.
A Christmas tree is a symbol. It’s a symbol of a specific culture. It’s a symbol of a much-loved tradition that’s hundreds of years old. Above all, it’s a symbol of a religion, the world’s largest. Torching Christmas trees is an attack on Christianity. pic.twitter.com/enFRpnT0mQ
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) December 9, 2021
Photos and videos from the scene show the fully decorated Christmas tree going up in flames.
Fox News host Shannon Bream announced the fire to viewers as firefighters were working to put it out on Wednesday night.
“This is the Fox Square in New York, outside of Fox headquarters,” Bream said. “It appears that our giant Christmas tree there, just a couple of minutes ago, was completely engulfed in flames.”
Firefighters extinguished the flames, and no injuries were reported.
A 49-year-old man who police said was homeless was arrested on charges including criminal mischief, arson, and trespassing. It wasn’t clear if he had an attorney who could comment on the charges.
Police said the man had a lighter, but it was unclear whether any accelerant was used.
The tree had been ceremonially lit during a network Christmas special on Sunday. Its charred remains were being dismantled Wednesday.
“We will not let this deliberate and brazen act of cowardice deter us,” Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott told network staffers in a memo. Scott said a new tree would be installed “as a message that there can be peace, light, and joy even during a dark moment like this.”
A lighting ceremony will be held for the new tree, Scott said.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.