(NewsNation) — U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday condemned recent violent attacks on Tesla property, adding the Department of Justice has already charged several perpetrators.
“The swarm of violent attacks on Tesla property is nothing short of domestic terrorism,” Bondi said in a statement.
President Donald Trump, when asked during a Fox News interview if setting a Tesla on fire was an act of domestic terrorism, said, “I think so.”
Activists have staged protests to voice anger over Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s role in sweeping cuts to the federal workforce and cancellation of contracts related to humanitarian programs since President Donald Trump took office Jan. 20.
What is domestic terrorism?
The FBI classifies domestic terrorism as “Violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups to further ideological goals stemming from domestic influences, such as those of a political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature.”
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security‘s definition of domestic terrorism, however, focuses more on “human life,” as it defines domestic terrorism as “Activities that involve acts dangerous to human life, intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence government policy, or affect government conduct, and occur primarily within the U.S.”
A former CIA agent’s opinion?
NewsNation national security contributor and former CIA officer Tracy Walder said she believes that the latest attacks against Tesla facilities are “100%” an act of domestic terrorism.
“(The protesters) are furthering a political ideology or a political goal,” said Walder. “But here’s the problem that I want to lay out: There are no federal domestic terrorism charging statutes. So no one can be charged with domestic terrorism … we’ve left that up to the states — some states have them, some states do not.”
Ex-prosecutor weighs in
Also supporting the Trump administration’s argument is legal analyst Matt Murphy, a former homicide prosecutor. He says the core definition of domestic terrorism is the act of trying to influence public policy through violence.
“That pretty much checks every box in the element list of what is required to prove domestic terrorism under federal law,” said Murphy, referring to videos of Teslas on fire at dealerships.