Man accused of setting fire to NSW GOP headquarters and Tesla showroom

On Monday, the U.S. Department of Justice charged a man with arson for setting fire to a Tesla dealership and the Republican Party (GOP) headquarters in New Mexico.

The accused, 40-year-old Jamison Wagner, resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and was charged with two counts of arson on Monday. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in either incident.

According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice, the suspect will remain in custody with a detention hearing scheduled for Wednesday.

On February 9, law enforcement in New Mexico received a report of a fire at the Tesla dealership in Albuquerque. When authorities arrived at the scene, they found two Tesla Model Y electric vehicles on fire outside the showroom.

Several weeks later, on March 30, a fire broke out at the GOP headquarters located in Albuquerque. The blaze severely damaged the entrance and filled the entire office with thick smoke.

In both incidents, graffiti containing references to the Three K Party and “Tesla Nazis” was found on nearby buildings.

Evidence found in Wagner’s residence included a white cardboard box containing eight suspected incendiary devices, black and red spray paint, and a template with the words “ICE=KKK.” ICE stands for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

Inside the burned Tesla vehicles, investigators discovered a intact glass container filled with homemade napalm materials. Investigators noted a handwritten uppercase letter “I” or “H” on the top of a green metal lid.

Additionally, the Tesla dealership building and six other vehicles were vandalized with red and black graffiti, including threats against Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of Tesla, and symbols of the Nazi Party.

At the GOP headquarters that was destroyed by fire, investigators recovered metal lids with handwritten uppercase letters “I” or “H”, similar in appearance to those found at the Tesla scene.

U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated in a press release, “Let this be a final lesson to those engaging in this ongoing surge of political violence. We will arrest you, we will prosecute you, we will not negotiate. Crime will have consequences.”

“We will pursue a full prosecution under the law,” Bondi posted on social media platform X regarding the case, “We seek a maximum sentence of 40 years imprisonment for (Wagner).”

The Department of Justice has classified a series of attacks on Tesla dealerships and charging stations as domestic terrorism events and initiated an investigation. Last month, the FBI established a special task force to coordinate investigations with officials from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Robert Cekada, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, stated in a press release on Monday that agents, fire investigators, and forensic experts are working diligently to gather evidence and make arrests.

“We are tirelessly following evidence, seeking truth, and bringing criminals to justice,” he said.

The Department of Justice has also charged four other individuals with using Molotov cocktails to destroy Tesla vehicles and fire stations.