ISTANBUL
Vowing harsh punishment, the US’ top cop has denounced a recent series of attacks on the property of Tesla, the carmaker led by CEO Elon Musk, US President Donald Trump’s largest campaign donor.
“The swarm of violent attacks on Tesla property is nothing short of domestic terrorism,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a Tuesday statement.
“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,” she added.
According to the website Axios, the FBI is investigating the attacks, which have targeted Tesla vehicles and dealerships, Dan Bongino, the FBI’s new deputy director, said Wednesday night.
Bondi’s statement came after a “targeted” attack Tuesday on a Tesla sales center in Las Vegas left multiple vehicles damaged, with at least two engulfed in flames. At least five vehicles were ultimately damaged in the firebomb and shooting attack, according to Las Vegas police.
The attack was the latest in a wave that has targeted Tesla facilities and vehicles, driven by a backlash against Musk’s role in leading the Trump administration’s efforts to impose sweeping cuts across the federal government.
Similar attacks have taken place in other countries – with four Tesla cars torched last Friday in Berlin – driven at least in part by Musk’s political activism in favor of extremist parties and policies, seen in more than one country as election interference.
Musk’s unpopularity has led Tesla’s global sales to plummet. Last week, Trump controversially used the White House as a backdrop to act as a salesman for Tesla, blurring government and commerce in a way some analysts called illegal.