• A New Mexico man, Jamison Wagner, has been arrested for arson attacks on a Tesla dealership and the GOP headquarters.
• Wagner faces charges including malicious damage or destruction of property by fire, potentially leading to 40 years in prison.
• The incidents included graffiti with messages against Tesla and the Republican Party.
• Evidence linking Wagner to the crimes includes surveillance footage, incendiary devices, and graffiti stencils.
• Authorities have labeled these arson attacks as “domestic terrorism.”

A New Mexico man, Jamison Wagner, has been arrested and charged with arson for two separate attacks: one at a Tesla dealership on February 9 and another at the New Mexico GOP headquarters on March 30. The attacks have been classified as "domestic terrorism" by federal authorities, underscoring the severity of the offenses, as noted by Attorney General Pam Bondi, who emphasized the intention to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law, potentially seeking up to 40 years in prison for Wagner if convicted, according to ABC News.

The first incident involved the damage of two vehicles at the Tesla Albuquerque showroom, where graffiti such as "Die Elon," "Tesla Nazi Inc," and swastika symbols were spray-painted on the building. In the second incident, Wagner is accused of attacking the GOP headquarters, resulting in significant property damage and further graffiti reading "ICE=KKK." Surveillance footage captured the suspect's white Hyundai sedan at both locations, aiding in the identification of Wagner as a suspect, according to CBS News.

Evidence found in Wagner's residence during an FBI and ATF raid included various incendiary devices, spray paint matching that used in the graffiti, and stencils identical to those left at the crime scenes. Prosecutors detailed in the criminal complaint that Wagner utilized homemade incendiary devices with containers resembling those found at the scenes of both fires. Each attack seemed to echo a motive fueled by political animosity towards Tesla's CEO Elon Musk and the Republican ideology, as highlighted by The New York Times.

Federal prosecutors are treating these acts as indicators of a broader pattern of violence toward Tesla, which has seen numerous similar attacks across the United States amid ongoing protests against Musk's involvement in the Trump administration. Despite his arrest, Wagner has responded with a plea of innocence, claiming that he was not responsible for the actions he is accused of, as reported by Newsweek.

Additionally, Attorney General Pam Bondi condemned the attacks, stating, "Hurling firebombs is not political protest," and asserted that the government would not tolerate such violent expressions. She reaffirmed the commitment to prosecuting such crimes to the maximum extent possible, emphasizing that political violence has serious repercussions, according to The Hill.