New Mexico man charged with Tesla, local GOP arson attacks: Crimes have consequences

A New Mexico man has been charged with recent arson attacks on a Tesla dealership and a local Republican Party building, the Justice Department said Monday. Jamison Wagner, 40, an Albuquerque resident, was arrested over the weekend after authorities found “substantial evidence” linking him to the attacks while searching his home.He is charged with two counts of malicious damage or destruction of property by fire or explosives and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing.“Let this be the final lesson to those taking part in this ongoing wave of political violence,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi.

“We will arrest you, we will prosecute you, and we will not negotiate.Crimes have consequences.”The attack on the Tesla facility happened on Feb.

9 when the Tesla Albuquerque Showroom was targeted in an arson attack.Two Tesla vehicles were involved in the fire, with one left significantly damaged.At the back of the building, authorities found graffiti spray-painted in red and black paint and six other vehicles, which included the phrases “Die Elon,” “Tesla Nazi Inc,” and “Die Tesla Nazi,” along with swastika symbols, authorities said. A suspect was captured on surveillance video wearing black clothing and a mask, and carrying a white box.

On March 30, a second arson attack happened at the Republican Party New Mexico (RPNM) office.That attack significantly damaged the front door and entry of the building.At the scene, investigators collected shattered glass and metal lids from what appeared to be two to three separate glass containers. Two of the lids had a handwritten capital “I” or “H,” similar in appearance to the letter found on the lid of the glass container at the Tesla scene, authorities said. At the time of the attack, the New Mexico GOP said the arson was part of a “disturbing pattern of politically motivated violence that has plagued our country—fueled in part by the silence and implicit encouragement f...