Ever since Elon Musk took a role in the U.S. government with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in January, there has been a wave of protests and attacks directed at Tesla the company, Tesla dealerships, and an increasing number of Tesla owners. Some incidents involved violent acts, such as dealership windows being shot out, lines of Tesla automobile's burned on the lots, fires at charging stations, etc... Tesla owners are also increasingly being targeted.
These attacks are linked to political discontent with Musk's actions, including his recommendations to the President and cabinet members on federal job cuts, as well as his controversial stances on various issues..
On Tuesday, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced charges against three individuals responsible for violent destruction of Tesla properties. All three defendants will face the full force of the law for using Molotov cocktails to set fire to Tesla cars and charging stations.
Quoting AG Bondi:
“The days of committing crimes without consequence have ended. Let this be a warning: if you join this wave of domestic terrorism against Tesla properties, the Department of Justice will put you behind bars.”
According to the DOJ, one defendant, armed with a suppressed AR-15 rifle, was arrested after throwing eight Molotov cocktails at a Tesla dealership in Salem, Oregon.
Another was arrested in Loveland, Colorado after also attempting to light Teslas on fire with Molotov cocktails. This defendant was later found in possession of materials used to produce additional incendiary devices.
In Charleston, South Carolina, a third defendant wrote profane messages against President Trump around Tesla charging stations before lighting them on fire with, you guessed it, Molotov cocktails.
Each defendant faces up to 20 years in federal lockup.
On Wednesday, FBI deputy director Dan Bongino issued a brief statement:
"Our teams are actively working on the Tesla incidents and the swatting incidents, along with our other responsibilities to keep the Homeland safe."
Also on Wednesday, the White House addressed the topic when asked by a reporter to comment on a website that allegedly is trying to "dox" (reveal personal information) owners of Tesla vehicles:
"I haven't seen that website, but we certainly think it's despicable — the violence that has taken place against Tesla, the company, its employees, and also just Americans who have chosen to drive an electric vehicle. Many of them are Democrats, by the way."
"Democrats were big supporters of Tesla and of electric vehicles until Elon Musk decided to vote for Donald Trump. So we would like Democrats to also come out and condemn this heinous violence that we have seen. And I believe the attorney general has said she's investigating these incidents as acts of domestic terrorism."
Readers are cautioned that social media sites are filled with new calls for protests, also known as Tesla Takedown Events, at Tesla dealerships across the country. Earlier in March, Elon Musk reported that an investigation found five ActBlue-funded groups have fueled the Tesla protests, including Troublemakers, Disruption Project, Rise & Resist, the Indivisible Project, and Democratic Socialists of America, of which congresswoman AOC is a member.
Interestingly, the Indivisible Project was the recipient of a recent infusion of just over seven million dollars from the George Soros Open Society network. Said differently, foreign money is, in part, funding these and other protest actions within the U.S..
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