The maker of electric vehicles has come under fire, literally, since its owner Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) began their crusade against wasteful government spending.
Eric Burlison, who represents the Show-Me State's 7th congressional district, said on Washington Watch Friday that the crimes against Tesla should be investigated as acts of terrorism. Getting there may require a stacking of charges, but Burlison told show host Tony Perkins that’s his goal.
“We're calling for Attorney General Pam Bondi to use every lever of power and investigative tool that she has to investigate these acts of terrorism,” Burlison said.
A conviction could mean 20 years in prison. Some instances require a crime against property valued at $500,000 or more. A base-model Tesla costs just more than $80,000.
The attackers have a plan, Burlison said. "Whenever you firebomb vehicles, particularly electric vehicles, when they catch fire they are almost impossible to put out. They burn hot, and they burn bright. These individuals know what they're doing,” he said.
The GOP lawmaker left open the possibility that foreign actors are involved in organizing or amplifying these events. Even if they’re not, and the organizers are all domestic, an investigation will reveal the truth, Burlison said.
“If there are nefarious groups, foreign actors, countries like Russia or China, that we can determine are involved in amplifying or inciting some of these violent acts, that's something that we should be concerned about.
“If it's domestic terrorism that's occurring because it's being funded by some leftist group for the purpose of inciting violence and terrorism, then it's something that we should absolutely be investigating,” he said.
Over the weekend Tesla protests in the U.S. and overseas numbered more than 200. Dubbed “Tesla Takedown,” the event was promoted at ActionNetwork.org.
“Tesla Takedown is a peaceful protest movement. We oppose violence, vandalism and destruction of property. This protest is a lawful exercise of our First Amendment right to peaceful assembly,” organizers wrote.
It was necessary clarity given the destruction of property on record. The Tesla dealership in Loveland, Colorado, has been attacked at least five times, Loveland Police say.
Protests are “perfectly acceptable,” but violence is not, Burlison argued. “You have a right to be there without causing violence and destruction," he acknowledged, "but we should all agree that this level of violence and destruction is not acceptable.”
The Left’s stomach for violence
Unfortunately, there are signs of acceptance from the public.
The entrance to the Republican Party headquarters in Albuquerque was destroyed early Sunday in an alleged arson attack, AP reports. Firefighters received the call shortly before 6 a.m., the Albuquerque Fire Department said on social media.
The building (right) suffered physical damage to the front and smoke damage throughout, but no injuries to civilians or firefighters were reported, the department said.
War on Tesla is the most glaring issue, but Burlison suggests it’s a symptom of a larger problem. “We have some disturbing trends where the Left is elevating these individuals and glorifying them,” he stated.
In California, citizens have submitted a proposed ballot initiative that bears the name of Luigi Mangione, the alleged killer of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
The Left misspelled the name of its star, and the “Luigi Mangioni Access to Health Care Act” is currently under review by the office of Democrat Attorney General Rob Bonta. The AG's office would likely rename the initiative before it’s approved, and organizers are allowed to begin seeking signatures.
If it is approved then gains the necessary 546,000 signatures of registered voters, the initiative would prohibit insurers from delaying, denying or modifying any medical procedure or medication recommended by a physician where such actions could result in disability, death, amputation, permanent disfigurement or loss or reduction of any bodily function, TownHall.com reported.
“The individual who murdered the president of United Health Insurance Company … [this bill is] glorifying him, but he’s a murderer, somebody who committed a violent act,” Burlison said. “We should not be glorifying the firebombing of these buildings and these cars, any kind of destruction, the keying of vehicles even. We need to be reminded that this is America.”
Burlison and many others called out defeated vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz (pictured below), Minnesota’s Democratic governor, for taking to social media to celebrate the sinking stock shares of Tesla.
Then news came that Minnesota had invested millions in Tesla shares in 2024.
One of ‘those’ apologies
Walz offered a non-apology apology during a town hall event in Rochester, Minnesota.
“The guy bugs me in a way that is probably unhealthy,” he said to cheers from his crowd. “These people have no sense of humor. They are the most literal people. My point was, they’re all mad, and I said something I probably shouldn’t have about a company.”
Walz then turned the conversation down a different path and said that Minneapolis VA employees, targeted for elimination by DOGE, is proof that Musk doesn’t care about his state’s citizens.
“The disrespect they have shown to employees at the Minneapolis VA who care for our veterans and they fire them … they don’t care,” Walz said, referring to DOGE.
Walz was out of line, Burlison said.
“Tesla is mostly vastly owned by shareholders and most of whom are retirees. When Tesla stock goes down, I don't know why anybody would be celebrating because what that means is that there's a lot of people whose retirement funds are going down.”
