FBI Intensifies Investigation into Swatting Incidents and Tesla Protests

March 21, 2025 - The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has ramped up its efforts to investigate a series of swatting incidents and violent protests targeting Tesla dealerships and owners. As of today, March 21, 2025, these incidents, linked to widespread backlash against Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s controversial role in the Trump administration, have drawn sharp condemnation from officials and ignited a fierce debate about political extremism, public safety, and corporate accountability. With the FBI now collaborating with local law enforcement and other federal agencies, the investigations are shedding light on a troubling wave of domestic unrest that some are calling a new frontier in "domestic terrorism."

The past few weeks have seen an unprecedented spike in attacks on Tesla facilities and vehicles across the United States. From arson and gunfire to vandalism with spray paint and Molotov cocktails, the incidents appear to be a direct response to Musk’s leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an unofficial task force aimed at slashing federal jobs and budgets. Since President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January, DOGE has overseen the elimination of over 62,000 federal positions, sparking outrage among workers, unions, and activists who blame Musk for what they call a "scorched-earth" approach to government reform.

The FBI’s involvement was formally announced earlier this week by Deputy Director Dan Bongino, who took to X on Wednesday night to confirm that the bureau is "actively working on the Tesla incidents and the swatting incidents, along with our other responsibilities to keep the Homeland safe." Bongino’s statement came just hours after Attorney General Pam Bondi labeled the attacks on Tesla as "nothing short of domestic terrorism" and vowed "severe consequences" for those involved, including potential masterminds coordinating or funding the protests behind the scenes.

Among the most notable incidents under investigation is a March 18 attack in Las Vegas, where an individual set fire to five Tesla vehicles at a repair center, fired at least three rounds of gunfire, and painted the word "RESIST" on the storefront’s windows. Las Vegas police described it as a "targeted attack," and the FBI’s local field office, led by Spencer Evans, has taken charge of the case. "To those who might think that something like this is justifiable or potentially even admirable, we want you to know this is a federal crime," Evans said at a press conference earlier this week.

Elsewhere, a Tesla dealership in Tigard, Oregon, was struck by gunfire twice within a week—on March 6 and March 13—resulting in damaged cars and shattered windows. In Kansas City, Missouri, two Tesla Cybertrucks were set ablaze on March 17 in what police suspect was arson, prompting a joint investigation with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Similar acts of vandalism have been reported in Seattle, Dedham (Massachusetts), and Loveland (Colorado), where Molotov cocktails and spray-painted messages like "NO MUSK" and "Nazi" have become recurring themes.

Parallel to the Tesla protests, a wave of swatting incidents has targeted prominent conservative influencers and Trump supporters, many of whom have ties to Musk via interactions on X. The FBI, under Director Kash Patel, is treating these incidents as part of a broader pattern of harassment linked to the same political tensions fueling the Tesla attacks.

On March 14, Patel announced that the FBI was investigating what he called a "dangerous trend" after conservative media figures like radio host Joe Pagliarulo, podcaster Shawn Farash, and Infowars’ Chase Geiser reported being swatted. Pagliarulo recounted a harrowing early-morning encounter on March 12, when he nearly confronted an armed officer at his door with his own firearm, unaware that a false disturbance call had been made to 911. "Had I taken any other action, I might have been killed in my house that night," he told listeners.

Another high-profile case unfolded in Western North Carolina, where activist Erin Derham and her husband Mat Van Swol were swatted on March 16. The caller, posing as Van Swol, claimed Derham had been killed and he had been shot, sending police storming into their home at 1:30 a.m. "I just fell to the ground," Derham told CNN, describing the terror of the moment and its emotional toll on the responding officer, who feared he might have harmed her children.

The swatting incidents have drawn particular attention due to their overlap with Musk’s online presence. Many of the targeted individuals have engaged with Musk on X, either through replies or reposts, leading to speculation that their vocal support for Trump and Musk has made them targets. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem underscored this connection on X, stating, "Under President Trump’s leadership, we will not sit idly by as conservative new media and their families are being targeted by false swatting."

The Trump administration has taken a hardline stance on both the Tesla attacks and the swatting incidents. President Trump himself weighed in on Truth Social on Friday, promising harsh penalties: "I look forward to watching the sick terrorist thugs get 20 year jail sentences for what they are doing to Elon Musk and Tesla. Perhaps they could serve them in the prisons of El Salvador, which have become so recently famous for such lovely conditions!" Trump also announced plans to purchase a new Tesla as a "show of confidence and support" for Musk, who has faced mounting criticism for his dual role as a tech mogul and political adviser.

Musk, for his part, has been vocal about the violence, calling the Las Vegas arson "terrorism" on X and asserting that Tesla "has done nothing to deserve these evil attacks." In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Thursday, he suggested that "larger forces" are orchestrating the protests, echoing earlier unsubstantiated claims that billionaires like George Soros and Reid Hoffman, along with Democratic groups, are funding the unrest. While Musk has offered no concrete evidence, his comments have fueled a polarized narrative, with supporters rallying behind him and critics accusing him of deflecting blame.

The Justice Department has already charged several individuals linked to the Tesla attacks. In Oregon, 41-year-old Adam Matthew Lansky faces federal charges for throwing eight Molotov cocktails at a Salem dealership on January 20. In Colorado, 42-year-old Lucy Grace Nelson was arrested for multiple vandalism incidents at a Loveland dealership between January 29 and February 11, allegedly using Molotov cocktails and spray paint. Bondi has hinted at further arrests, warning, "If you’re going to touch a Tesla, go to a dealership, do anything, you better watch out because we’re coming after you."

While the violent incidents have dominated headlines, a parallel grassroots movement known as "Tesla Takedown" has organized peaceful protests at Tesla showrooms nationwide. Led by activists like Valerie Costa of Seattle’s Troublemakers group, the campaign aims to boycott Tesla and hurt Musk’s bottom line as a means of opposing his influence on government policy. "Every Tesla purchased increases his profits, and the more money he has, the more influence he has," Costa told Democracy Now! on March 13, noting over 300 protests tracked on the movement’s decentralized map.

Costa herself became a target of Musk’s ire after he accused her on X of "committing crimes" and linked her group to supposed ActBlue funding—claims she denies as "outright lies." The fallout included online harassment and threats, prompting her to bolster personal security measures. Despite the pressure, she remains defiant, arguing that conflating peaceful protests with violence is a deliberate tactic to suppress dissent.

The unrest has taken a toll on Tesla’s brand and bottom line. Sales have plummeted in the first quarter of 2025, with Edmunds reporting a record number of Tesla trade-ins in March. Some owners have even affixed bumper stickers reading, "I bought this before Elon went crazy," signaling a desire to distance themselves from Musk’s polarizing persona. Tesla’s stock has shed about 40% of its value since January, a stark reversal from its post-election peak in December 2024.

Analysts warn that the violence risks alienating potential buyers further. "No one wants to spend money on a Tesla only to have it vandalized," said Gordon Johnson of GLJ Research, a longtime Tesla bear. The global nature of the protests—spanning Canada, France, and the Netherlands—only amplifies the challenge for the electric vehicle giant.

As the FBI digs deeper into the swatting and Tesla protest investigations, questions linger about the scope and coordination of these acts. Are they the work of lone actors, inspired by Musk’s high-profile role, or part of a more organized effort? The bureau’s collaboration with the ATF, DHS, and local police signals a multi-pronged approach, but swatting’s reliance on spoofed calls and the decentralized nature of the protests pose significant hurdles.

17GEN4.com