DOJ Expenses New Mexico Man With Arson In opposition to Tesla Showroom and Republican HQ

The U.S. Division of Justice introduced on Monday that it charged Jamison R. Wagner, a 40-year-old from Albuquerque, New Mexico, with arson for allegedly setting fires at a Tesla showroom within the metropolis in addition to the native Republican Occasion headquarters. The costs come as Tesla CEO Elon Musk stays the main target of widespread public anger over his illegal destruction of the U.S. authorities and his far-right extremist views about race and immigration.

The U.S. authorities alleges Wagner broken two Tesla autos on the Tesla Showroom in Albuquerque, New Mexico, throughout the early morning hours of Feb. 9, 2025. One of many autos seems to have vital injury, in keeping with a photograph released by DOJ, however one other car seems to easily have a window smashed.

The DOJ alleges that an “intact glass container” was discovered within the second car “containing an improvised napalm materials.”

The constructing of the Tesla Showroom and 6 different autos on the property have been hit with graffiti studying “Die Elon,” “Tesla Nazi Inc,” and “Die Tesla Nazi,” in addition to swastikas. Musk, who’s nonetheless working the so-called Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE), infamously made two Nazi-style salutes on the day President Donald Trump was inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2025.

Musk has denied he was making an attempt to invoke the Nazis, however anybody with eyes to see can perceive why affordable individuals would assume the billionaire was welcoming the second Trump period with an specific embrace of Nazism. The oligarch has embraced far-right ideology and expressed some extraordinarily antisemitic and racist ideas over current years.

DOJ revealed pictures it stated have been taken from surveillance footage showing to point out an individual in a black hooded sweatshirt. It’s not clear whether or not that individual is definitely Wagner, although the federal government insists it’s.

“Hurling firebombs will not be political protest,” Deputy Legal professional Basic Todd Blanche stated in an announcement posted online. “It’s a harmful felony that we are going to prosecute to the utmost extent. The spectacular work by legislation enforcement in New Mexico sends a transparent message to perpetrators of all the shameful assaults on Tesla amenities and political institutions: we’re coming for you, you possibly can’t cover, and you’ll do critical jail time to pay in your crimes.”

The FBI issued an announcement in late March noting that there have been assaults on Tesla-related property in a minimum of 9 states. And whereas Tesla CEO Elon Musk has tried to insist that assaults on Tesla amenities, together with peaceable demonstrations, are all being paid for by some shadowy figures, there’s no proof that that is the case.

DOJ additionally alleges Wagner attacked the Republican Occasion New Mexico (RPNM) workplace within the early morning hours of March 30, 2025. Two or three glass containers with flammable liquids have been allegedly used to break the door of the constructing, whereas the phrases ICE=KKK have been spray-painted exterior. Wagner was arrested on April 12, 2025, by brokers from the FBI and ATF, in keeping with the DOJ press launch.

“Let this be the ultimate lesson to these participating on this ongoing wave of political violence,” stated Legal professional Basic Pamela Bondi. “We are going to arrest you, we’ll prosecute you, and we won’t negotiate. Crimes have penalties.”

Wagner has been charged with two counts of malicious injury or destruction of property by hearth or explosives and faces 5-20 years for every of the 2 counts, in keeping with DOJ.