By Jennifer Calfas

An Albuquerque man was arrested and charged with arson for allegedly setting fire at a New Mexico Tesla showroom and the state's Republican Party headquarters.

The Justice Department said Jamison Wagner, a 40-year-old Albuquerque resident, set fires that damaged two Tesla vehicles at the company's showroom in Bernalillo, N.M., and spray-painted the property and cars with phrases, "Die Elon" and "Tesla Nazi Inc."

"Hurling firebombs is not political protest," Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Monday. "It is a dangerous felony that we will prosecute to the maximum extent."

Tesla has been a target in months by critics of Elon Musk and his efforts to cut the size of the federal government. There have been slew of attacks around the country on Tesla vehicles and properties include people throwing Molotov cocktails at cars, a man firing bullets into a Tesla dealership and a man spray-painting anti-Trump messages on Tesla charging station.

Attorney General Pam Bondi has said the strikes on the electric-car maker are politically motivated and has described them as acts of domestic terrorism.

Wagner was charged with two counts of "malicious damage or destruction of property by fire or explosives," the Justice Department said. U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a post on X Monday she is "seeking up to 40 years in prison -- no negotiating."

Federal authorities said the suspect broke or tried to break the windows of several cars and placed "a container or incendiary device" into two Tesla vehicles in the early hours of Feb. 9, according to the criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court of New Mexico.

"A small flickering light, consistent with a transient ignition source, was observed in the subject's hands before flame rapidly appeared inside one vehicle," the complaint said. Wagner spray-painted graffiti on several cars in the dealership's parking lot and its structure, the complaint said.

Law enforcement linked the same suspect to a fire that damaged the Republican Party of New Mexico headquarters on March 30. The building was also spray-painted with the letters "ICE=KKK," according to the complaint.

Investigators found similarities between the jars used to contain the fire accelerants in both cases, including handwritten letters "I" or "H" on their lids.

Investigators also determined a white car seen around the incidents matched Wagner's vehicle, according to the complaint, and found evidence linking the suspect to the incidents including possible incendiary devices, spray paint, a cardboard stencil of "ICE=KKK" and other materials while conducting a search warrant of his home.

Amy Barela, chairwoman of the Republican Party of New Mexico, said Monday no one was hurt in the incident and thanked law enforcement. "The attack on our headquarters was not just an attack on a building; it was an attack on the democratic process and the values we hold dear," Barela said.

Tesla and a public defender representing Wagner didn't respond to a request for comment.

Write to Jennifer Calfas at jennifer.calfas@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 14, 2025 17:36 ET (21:36 GMT)

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