According to Patel, evidence recovered during the operation suggests the suspect may have been planning more.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced Monday on X, formerly Twitter, that federal agents have arrested a suspect in the February arson attack on a Tesla facility in New Mexico.
Newsweek reached out to the bureau’s National Press Office via phone call on Monday for comment.
The latest arrest comes as part of the President Donald Trump administration’s intensified response to what it has classified as domestic terrorism targeting Tesla vehicles and company properties.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced just days ago that four other Tesla protesters had been arrested, with all suspects potentially facing up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Protests against Tesla have ramped up due to CEO Elon Musk’s prominent role in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Musk has become the face of efforts to slash federal government spending, with his team gaining access to sensitive personal data of Americans, including Social Security information. DOGE has faced multiple lawsuits from labor and rights groups seeking to prevent potential data misuse.
Critics have also highlighted what they perceive as conflicts of interest, noting that Musk continues to increase his federal government contracts—reportedly earning $8 million daily—while simultaneously cutting federal agencies. His influence has led some to refer to him as « President Musk », particularly after incidents such as addressing reporters alongside Trump behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.
The Department of Justice has identified the suspect as Jamison R. Wagner, 40, who is charged with federal arson in the February vandalism at a Tesla showroom in Bernalillo, New Mexico.
Court records unsealed Monday say authorities found two Tesla Model Y vehicles ablaze and spray-painted messages including « Die Elon » and « Die Tesla Nazi.
