The new task force will work with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to “crack down” on the violent attacks. FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi have called the actions “domestic terrorism.”
“The FBI has been investigating the increase in violent activity toward Tesla, and over the last few days, we have taken additional steps to crack down and coordinate our response,” Patel wrote on social media on Monday. “This is domestic terrorism. Those responsible will be pursued, caught, and brought to justice.”
“Justice is coming,” Dan Bongino, the bureau’s deputy director, wrote on social media.
Elon Musk, who owns Tesla and is serving as the de-facto head of the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, replied to Bongino’s post with fire emojis.
Bondi announced last week that the Justice Department charged three people over the vandalism of Tesla properties. They were arrested at the scene while vandalizing Tesla vehicles, charging stations, or dealerships — each faces charges carrying five to 20 years in prison.
There have been at least 80 reports of vandalism or arson of Tesla vehicles and 10 reports of vandalism at Tesla dealerships.
ELON MUSK’S NEW GOVERNMENT ROLE COULD RAISE ETHICAL CONUNDRUMS
The Tesla attacks came in response to Musk’s increasingly influential role in the Trump White House.
Protests against Musk are not isolated to the United States. Other protests, including vandalism against Tesla, have occurred in Europe following the DOGE leader’s support of right-wing political parties on the continent.
