FBI Director Kash Patel announced Monday on X, formerly Twitter, that federal agents have arrested a suspect in the February arson attack on a Tesla facility in New Mexico.
Newsweek reached out to the bureau’s National Press Office via phone call on Monday for comment.
Why It Matters
The latest arrest comes as part of the President Donald Trump administration’s intensified response to what it has classified as domestic terrorism targeting Tesla vehicles and company properties.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced just days ago that four other Tesla protesters had been arrested, with all suspects potentially facing up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
BREAKING: I can now report that on Saturday morning, our @FBIAlbuquerque team and the @ATFPhoenix arrested an individual who we believe to be responsible for the February arson attack on a New Mexico Tesla facility.
The evidence in this case stemmed from our ongoing…
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) April 14, 2025
Why Are People Protesting Tesla?
Protests against Tesla have ramped up due to CEO Elon Musk‘s prominent role in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Musk has become the face of efforts to slash federal government spending, with his team gaining access to sensitive personal data of Americans, including Social Security information. DOGE has faced multiple lawsuits from labor and rights groups seeking to prevent potential data misuse.
Critics have also highlighted what they perceive as conflicts of interest, noting that Musk continues to increase his federal government contracts—reportedly earning $8 million daily—while simultaneously cutting federal agencies. His influence has led some to refer to him as “President Musk,” particularly after incidents such as addressing reporters alongside Trump behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.
What to Know About the Suspect
The Department of Justice has identified the suspect as Jamison R. Wagner, 40, who is charged with federal arson in the February vandalism at a Tesla showroom in Bernalillo, New Mexico.
Court records unsealed Monday say authorities found two Tesla Model Y vehicles ablaze and spray-painted messages including “Die Elon” and “Die Tesla Nazi.” Wagner is also charged in the March fire at the Albuquerque headquarters of the New Mexico Republican Party, which badly damaged the entrance and caused extensive smoke damage throughout the office.
The Associated Press reported that during a search of Wagner’s home and garage, investigators discovered eight assembled suspected incendiary devices, black and red spray paint and a cardboard stencil with the phrase “ICE=KKK” that had red spray paint on it.
The FBI chief confirmed reports in March of a task force targeting those who showed “violent activity” toward Tesla. During a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, Bondi told Trump that his directive to prosecute Tesla protesters “to the fullest extent of the law” was being executed.
The FBI has been tracking Tesla-related crimes across nine states, describing many as involving “arson, gunfire, and vandalism,” with perpetrators expressing “grievances against those they perceive to be racists, fascists, or political opponents.”
How Violent Have Tesla Protests Been?
Tesla-related protests have escalated from superficial vandalism to the more severe. Some protesters have spray-painted vehicles with Nazi symbols, referencing a controversial gesture Musk made during Trump’s second inauguration, which many interpreted as a Nazi salute.
More serious incidents have involved incendiary devices, with Trump referencing video footage showing “up to a dozen vehicles burning at a showroom.” The FBI noted that most attacks occur at night and involve “rudimentary tactics, such as improvised incendiary devices and firearms.”
PEDRO UGARTE/AFP via Getty Images
What People Are Saying
Patel on Monday announced the arrest on X: “I can now report that on Saturday morning, our @FBIAlbuquerque team and the @ATFPhoenix arrested an individual who we believe to be responsible for the February arson attack on a New Mexico Tesla facility.”
He added: “The evidence in this case stemmed from our ongoing investigation of the March arson attack on the New Mexico Republican Party HQ. Evidence recovered at the scene strongly suggests that this weekend, our brave agents prevented further planned arson attacks. Amazing work from our teams, ATF colleagues, and regional law enforcement partners executing the mission. Under @AGPamBondi’s leadership, this is part of our FBI mandate to locate those responsible for the domestic terrorist attacks on Tesla and promptly bring them to justice. Justice will be done.”
Bondi, in a March 18 statement: “The swarm of violent attacks on Tesla property is nothing short of domestic terrorism. The Department of Justice has already charged several perpetrators with that in mind, including in cases that involve charges with five-year mandatory minimum sentences. 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.”
Musk shared a video in March of protesters confronting a Cybertruck driver, writing on X: “It is time to arrest those funding the attacks. Arresting their puppets and paid foot-soldiers won’t stop the violence.”
Trump has taken a hard-line stance against vandals, writing on Truth Social in March: “I look forward to watching the sick terrorist thugs get 20-year jail sentences for what they are doing to Elon Musk and Tesla. Perhaps they could serve them in the prisons of El Salvador, which have become so recently famous for such lovely conditions!”
What Happens Next
The FBI will continue investigating other Tesla-related incidents, particularly focusing on potential connections between attacks. Law enforcement agencies are coordinating responses across multiple states to address what the administration characterizes as a coordinated campaign against Tesla.
