Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday announced three individuals are facing federal charges for allegedly attacking Tesla properties as protests and vandalism hit Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company across the country.
Calling the charges a “warning,” Bondi said the three individuals are accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at Tesla dealerships in three different states in recent weeks.
“The days of committing crimes without consequence have ended,” Bondi said in a Thursday statement. “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.”
The charges come amid a wave of violent demonstrations taking place across the nation in protest of Musk’s efforts to slash the federal government and budget under President Trump’s direction.
Musk serves as the CEO of Tesla, which has seen its stock plummet in recent weeks as the electric vehicle manufacturer becomes a political target.
The protests have targeted both Tesla dealerships and showrooms, along with some individual parked Teslas on the street or at charging stations.
One of the three charged individuals was armed with an AR-15 rifle when they threw about eight Molotov cocktails at a Tesla dealership in Salem, Ore., Bondi said.
Another individual is accused of attempting to light Teslas on fire with Molotov cocktails in Loveland, Colo., while the third defendant allegedly wrote profane messages against Trump near Tesla charging stations before lighting them on fire with Molotov cocktails.
The charges carry a minimum penalty of five years in prison with a maximum of 20 years jail time, the Justice Department said.
Earlier this week, Bondi labeled the vandalism as “domestic terrorism” and warned perpetrators to “watch out.” Trump said Tuesday that he thinks the vandalization of Teslas could be considered political terrorism and hinted last week he would be open to labeling the political violence at Tesla dealerships as domestic terrorism.
The White House has repeatedly backed Musk and Tesla amid the protests. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick urged people to buy Tesla stock, and Trump had a fleet of Tesla vehicles delivered to the White House last week in a show of support.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday slammed Democrats for not speaking up about the attacks.
“We certainly think it’s despicable the violence that is taking place against Tesla, the company, its employees, and also just Americans who have chosen to drive an electric vehicle,” Leavitt told reporters during a Wednesday briefing.
“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.”
