The Department of Justice has charged a man with bombing a Tesla dealership and is seeking a 20-year prison sentence, according to a report.
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that suspect Cooper Frederick has been charged with firebombing a Tesla dealership on March 7 in Loveland, Colorado. The FBI pursued the suspect, who was arrested in Plano, Texas, the Washington Examiner reported.
“I’ve made it clear: If you take part in the wave of domestic terrorism against Tesla properties, we will find you, arrest you, and put you behind bars,” she said. “Today, I am proud to announce that the Department of Justice has unsealed federal charges against another Tesla attacker. All of these cases are a serious threat to public safety; therefore, there will be no negotiating.”
“Let this be a warning: You can run, but you cannot hide. Justice is coming,” Bondi noted further.
The attorney general warned earlier this month that she would begin charging vandals who damage Tesla vehicles with domestic terrorism, bringing the first three suspects to face these charges on March 20.
“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,” a statement from Bondi on March 18 said.
“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,” the statement added.
Tesla vehicles, charging stations, and dealerships have come under attack in recent weeks, with incidents ranging from graffiti vandalism to firebombings. The wave of attacks follows growing outrage from left-wing activists over Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s prominent involvement in the Trump administration.
Republicans have condemned the violence as domestic terrorism and are advocating for its prosecution as such. The FBI has recently launched a task force to investigate instances of vandalism against Tesla.
Tesla’s stock has dropped by 40% in the past year. It peaked at over $428 per share before Trump’s inauguration in January but is currently sitting at $259 as of Monday.
Musk, who is spearheading the Trump administration’s contentious attempts to reduce federal agencies through the Department of Government Efficiency and the federal government’s workforce, has been the target of protests at Tesla showrooms.
The FBI warned the public over the weekend to be on the lookout for any indications of a potential attack on Tesla dealerships or entities associated with Tesla, such as people monitoring or attempting to enter Tesla properties or threatening the company online.
In a post on X, FBI Assistant Director for Public Affairs Ben Williamson stated that the new task force will investigate anti-Tesla attacks in collaboration with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. “This is domestic terrorism. Those responsible will be pursued, caught, and brought to justice,” FBI Director Kash Patel said.
“There is no doubt that shooting bullets into Tesla stores and burning down Superchargers are acts of terrorism,” Musk reaffirmed on Monday on his X social media platform.
Musk responded to the violent attacks on Tesla facilities last week by writing, “Tesla just makes electric cars and has done nothing to deserve these evil attacks,” in an X post.
Bondi also issued a warning last month to far-left Texas Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett after she made a series of what appeared to some to be threatening comments toward Musk and other GOP lawmakers.
During an interview on Fox News with host Sean Hannity, Bondi accused Crockett of “threatening lives” with her rhetoric against the billionaire CEO after activists targeted Tesla dealerships.
“After she said that about Elon, she said, ‘well, I didn’t mean violence,’ but however, your words have consequences. And what happened after she said that about Elon Musk? She’s a Texan in her own home state after she said that this morning, three explosive devices were found in Austin, Texas. So she needs to unequivocally denounce the violence,” Bondi said.
“She must apologize immediately, not only to all Texans, but to our country, to the American shareholders of Tesla, because she is promoting violence,” she added.
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