Justice Department charges man with arson at New Mexico Tesla dealership and GOP headquarters

Man Charged with Vandalizing Tesla Dealership and Setting Fire to Republican Party Headquarters

By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and ERIC TUCKER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — A man has been charged by the Justice Department for vandalizing a Tesla dealership in New Mexico and setting fire to the headquarters of the state Republican Party, according to court records revealed on Monday.

The criminal complaint accuses Jamison R. Wagner, 40, of federal arson charges related to the vandalism at a Tesla showroom in Bernalillo, where two Tesla Model Y vehicles were found ablaze along with graffiti messages such as “Die Elon” and “Die Tesla Nazi.”

Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and a close ally of former President Donald Trump, has been the target of these attacks.

The arrest is part of a federal effort to combat what the attorney general has labeled as domestic terrorism targeting property associated with Musk’s electric-car company.

Wagner is also implicated in a fire at the New Mexico Republican Party headquarters in Albuquerque, which caused significant damage. Spray-painted messages like “ICE=KKK” were found near the entrance of the building.

Investigators discovered suspected incendiary devices, spray paint, and a stencil with the message “ICE=KKK” during a search of Wagner’s home and garage.

Four other cases have been charged by the Justice Department against individuals accused of using Molotov cocktails to destroy Tesla cars and fire stations. The FBI has established a task force to coordinate investigations with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

No plea deals will be offered to those charged in the Tesla attacks, as per Attorney General Pam Bondi’s statement at the White House.

Originally Published: April 14, 2025 at 3:58 PM MDT