Fox Christmas tree arsonist Craig Tamanaha flashed press outside Ghislaine Maxwell trial
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY: Craig Tamanaha, 49, who is a homeless man was arrested shortly after the Fox Christmas tree on Fox Square, New York, went up in flames at 12:14 am on December 8. The suspected arsonist currently faces six charges and an investigation revealed that he very recently had a run-in with the law for exposing himself in public. Tamanaha was arrested in November after he pulled down his pants to show his privates to the photographers and reporters gathered in front of the United States Court House in downtown Manhattan as Ghislaine Maxwell's trial proceedings took place inside.
Tamanaha was held at Midtown Precinct North by the NYPD. He is currently facing six charges including arson, criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, and disorderly conduct. These charges come on the heels of two previous arrests from earlier this year, both for drug possession. Fox's CEO Suzanne Scott sent a memo to all staff after Tamanaha set the 50-foot tree which took 21 hours to install and was decorated with 10,000 ornaments. Scott described the incident as a "deliberate and brazen act of cowardice to deter us." The company is currently in the process of installing a new tree as "a message that there can be peace, light, and joy even during a dark moment like this."
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49 year old Craig Tamanaha, who is homeless, is in police custody after he was spotted lighting the Fox News Christmas tree on fire in New York City. Building security says he was seen climbing the tree with lighter. pic.twitter.com/tj4qE0c52b
— Parker Branton (@ParkerBranton) December 8, 2021
Craig Tamanaha exposed himself to a female photographer
Tamanaha was captured on camera after he exposed himself on Day 1 of Maxwell's trial. The New York Post spoke to freelance journalist Jeenah Moon who claimed, “I saw him walking around the square where media parks. He had a little weird behavior." She added, “He exposed himself to a female photographer and other people.” Moon photographed Tamanaha as police escorted him away. He was wearing the same sweatshirt he wore during his recent arrest. “I was a little shocked,” Moon said.
Tamanaha's father Richard told the outlet that he likely set the tree on fire as a way to get on the news to garner attention. Coming to his recent stunt of firing up the Christmas tree, a lighter was recovered from him after being arrested however it is unclear if he used it to start the fire. The Sun reports, he carried some papers with him, lit them on fire, stuffed them inside the Christmas tree after which he climbed down and watched it burn. FDNY responded to the scene to extinguish the fire.