Federal law enforcement officials say an Albuquerque man lit this Tesla on fire, along with front doors to the headquarters of the Republican Party of New Mexico. Jamison Wagner, 40, faces at least 10 years in federal prison, officials announced Monday. (Photo courtesy criminal complaint)
An Albuquerque man faces federal charges for alleged politically motivated arsons at a local Tesla dealership and Republican Party headquarters, an arrest touted Monday by United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi and other prominent federal law enforcement officials in Washington, D.C.
Jamison Wagner, 40, was arrested late last week following an investigation by multiple federal and local law enforcement agencies, charged with two counts of malicious damage or destruction of property by fire or explosives. He could face between five and 20 years in prison for each count, according to a news release from the United States Department of Justice.
“Let this be the final lesson to those taking part in this ongoing wave of political violence,” U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a news release announcing the charges, which included comparable sentiments from FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy United States Attorney General Todd Blanche. “We will arrest you, we will prosecute you and we will not negotiate. Crimes have consequences.”
Bondi has previously referred to property destruction of Teslas as “domestic terrorism” and promised harsh consequences for those who are accused of it.
Investigators believe Wagner used “improvised napalm material” to ignite Tesla sedans on Feb. 9 of this year at the dealership at the Santa Ana Pueblo in Sandoval County. Two Tesla Model Y sedans were damaged, one of them significantly, in the alleged arson, according to a federal criminal complaint.
Investigators also accuse Wagner of starting a fire that occurred in the early morning hours of March 30 at the headquarters of the Republican Party of New Mexico in Albuquerque. The fire destroyed the front doors to the building but was quickly extinguished without spreading.
Neither either alleged arson caused any injuries, according to investigators. At both scenes, investigators said, graffiti was sprayed with red paint through stencils that said things like “Die Elon,” “Dia Tesla Nazi” and “ICE=KKK.” Investigators also found glass jars containing the improvised napalm with either an “I” or an “H” handwritten on the lids.
Agents traced Wagner’s white Hyundai sedan from the Republican headquarters to his home in Albuquerque, according to charging documents. In his garage, they found more jars with the incendiary liquid, along with stencils they suspect Wagner used in the graffiti at both crime scenes, according to the documents.
Charging documents describe the “interstate nexus” for both the Tesla and Republican headquarters attacks, which is used to justify federal charges. The fact Tesla components are made in Germany and China is one reason the alleged arson meets that standard, according to the documents. Additionally, the Republican headquarters sells items from the “The MAGA Mall” based in southern Florida, including hats, bumper stickers and signs, was another way to establish the “interstate nexus,” according to the documents.
NM GOP renews call for special session on crime after alleged arson at Albuquerque headquarters
Following the damage to the Republican headquarters, statewide Republican leaders held a news conference calling on Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to call a special legislative session devoted to getting tougher on crime.
On Monday, New Mexico Democrats and Republicans applauded the arrest.
“The Democratic Party of New Mexico is grateful to law enforcement for arresting and charging a suspect for the recent arson and vandalism at the Tesla showroom in Bernalillo and the Republican Party of New Mexico office,” the Democrats said in a statement. “Should this individual be found guilty, we hope the U.S. Department of Justice holds them accountable. Politically motivated violence and vandalism are never acceptable.”
Republicans also called for unity in a statement Monday afternoon.
“We applaud local and federal law enforcement agencies in their swift investigation of these acts of domestic terrorism. Let this serve as an example, political violence and domestic terrorism will not be tolerated,” spokesperson Brandon Harris said in an emailed statement. “Let us come together and move beyond political division to work towards a better future for ALL New Mexicans.”
This post was originally authored and published by Patrick Lohmann from via RSS Feed. to get your news feed on Nationwide Report®.
