AG Pam Bondi Charges Alleged Tesla Vandals, Calling Attacks 'Domestic Terrorism'

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Thursday her office is bringing “serious charges” against the people who allegedly vandalized or attempted to damage Tesla cars and other properties associated with Elon Musk’s electric car company, calling them perpetrators of “domestic terrorism.”

The three people charged face five to 20 years in prison if convicted, her office said, but did not specify what the charges are.

“The days of committing crimes without consequence have ended,” Bondi said in a 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.”

Attacks against Tesla have taken place across several states: In Oregon, a man was arrested for allegedly throwing Molotov cocktails at a Tesla service center, damaging seven cars. Another person was arrested in Colorado for allegedly attempting to light Teslas on fire with Molotov cocktails. And in South Carolina, someone was arrested for allegedly writing profane messages about President Donald Trump around Tesla charging stations and lighting them on fire with Molotov cocktails.

In warnings in recent days, Bondi has suggested the Justice Department intends to use the full force of the law against anyone suspected of Tesla-related crimes. She also floated a conspiracy theory that the vandals were being paid.

“We will continue investigations that impose severe consequences on those involved in these attacks, including those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes,” she said Tuesday.

Her suggestion echoes one Republican lawmakers have made in recent weeks claiming that George Soros or some other anti-GOP funder is paying protesters to disrupt their town halls. Republicans have used that excuse to stop holding public events.

The Tesla-related attacks come as Elon Musk oversees President Donald Trump’s massive cuts to federal spending, slashing funding for national parks and forests, free meals in schools, infectious disease research and support for veterans, among dozens of other federally funded programs and initiatives Americans rely on every day.

On Thursday, Tesla recalled nearly every one of its Cybertrucks due to a safety issue with an exterior panel that “can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash,” according to the company.

This marked the eighth time Tesla has had to recall Cybertrucks, which have only been on roads since November 2023. The massive recall of more than 46,000 cars comes at a precarious time for the company, which has seen its stock lose about half of its value this year.

Trump’s White House has aggressively promoted Tesla as the company struggles. Last week, Trump paraded Musk’s cars in front of the White House, hailed Musk as a “great patriot” and said he’d be buying one of his vehicles. Then on Wednesday, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick went on Fox News to plead with Americans to buy stock in Musk’s company, promising shares will “never be this cheap again.”

The company’s shares dropped another 1.7% the morning after Lutnick’s sales pitch.

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