The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Monday that it charge Jamison R. Wagner , a 40 - year - honest-to-god from Albuquerque , New Mexico , with arson for allegedly setting fires at a Tesla saleroom in the urban center as well as the local Republican Party HQ . The charge come as Tesla CEO Elon Musk rest the focus of widespread public anger over his unlawful wipeout of the U.S. authorities and his far - right extremist views about race and in-migration .
The U.S. government activity alleges Wagner damaged two Tesla vehicles at the Tesla Showroom in Albuquerque , New Mexico , during the early sunup hours of Feb. 9 , 2025 . One of the vehicles appears to have significant wrong , according to a photoreleased by DOJ , but another vehicle appears to simply have a windowpane smashed .
The DOJ allege that an “ intact methamphetamine container ” was find out in the second fomite “ curb an jury-rigged napalm cloth . ”
Elon Musk gives one of two Nazi-style salutes on Jan. 20, 2025.Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images
The construction of the Tesla Showroom and six other vehicle on the place were remove with graffiti reading “ drop dead Elon , ” “ Tesla Nazi Inc , ” and “ croak Tesla Nazi , ” as well as swastikas . Musk , who ’s still operating the so - called Department of Government Efficiency ( DOGE ) , infamously made two Nazi - style salutes on the day President Donald Trump was inaugurated on Jan. 20 , 2025 .
Musk has denied he was hear to invoke the Nazis , but anyone with eyes to see can sympathise why reasonable mass would assume the billionaire was welcome the 2d Trump era with an expressed embracing of Nazism . The oligarch has embraced far - right wing ideology and expressed some extremelyantisemiticandracist ideasover late years .
DOJ published photos it say were taken from surveillance footage appearing to show a somebody in a bleak hooded sweatshirt . It ’s not clear whether that person is really Wagner , though the government insists it is .
Damaged Tesla vehicles in a photograph published by the U.S. Department of Justice. Photo: DOJ
“ Hurling firebombs is not political protest , ” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a program line postedonline . “ It is a severe felony that we will engage to the maximum extent . The impressive work by law of nature enforcement in New Mexico sends a absolved message to perpetrators of all of the shameful attacks on Tesla facilities and political establishment : we are coming for you , you ca n’t hide , and you will do serious jail time to pay for your crimes . ”
The FBI issue a financial statement in late March noting that there have been attacks on Tesla - related property in at least nine states . And while Tesla CEO Elon Musk has hear to insist that attacks on Tesla facilities , along with peaceful demonstrations , are all being pay for by some shady frame , there ’s no grounds that this is the case .
DOJ also alleges Wagner set on the Republican Party New Mexico ( RPNM ) business office in the former dayspring hours of March 30 , 2025 . Two or three field glass containers with flammable liquids were allegedly used to damage the door of the building , while the word ICE = KKK were sprayer - painted outside . Wagner was arrested on April 12 , 2025 , by agents from the FBI and ATF , agree to the DOJ press passing .
Photo: DOJ
“ permit this be the final lesson to those get hold of part in this on-going undulation of political fury , ” tell Attorney General Pamela Bondi . “ We will apprehend you , we will prosecute you , and we will not negotiate . criminal offense have consequences . ”
Wagner has been turn on with two count of malicious damage or wipeout of property by fervour or explosive and faces 5 - 20 years for each of the two counts , according to DOJ .
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