DC Man Arrested For Vandalizing Tesla Cars In 'Tesla Takedown' Protest, Faces June Court Date

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia has revealed that charges have been filed against a suspect for the alleged vandalism of multiple Tesla Inc. TSLA vehicles.

What Happened: The attorney's office revealed on Thursday that 49-year-old Justin Fisher was charged with four counts of defacing public or private property following alleged vandalism targeted at Tesla vehicles between March 1 and March 21.

Court documents say the suspect's misdemeanor initial hearing will take place on June 10, 2025, in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia. Fisher was arrested on April 1.

U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr condemned the vandalism, calling the ‘Tesla Takedown' protests currently taking place across the U.S. an act of "Domestic Terrorism."

"These attacks are not just an attack on someone's property. They are meant to intimidate and suppress political speech and shut down the marketplace of ideas," Martin said.

Why It Matters: The news comes in when a recent SEC filing by Tesla officially incorporated the protests as a risk factor to the company's business as well as fundraising efforts.

The company says that exaggerated or unfounded claims of its management have incited protests and violence against Tesla products and operations. CEO Elon Musk had slammed the protests and said they were funded by government waste in the Q1 earnings call on Tuesday.

However, Tesla owners in the U.S. continue to face problems with rising insurance premiums as well as declining used car values, among other troubles, amid Musk's continued endorsement of right-wing political ideals.

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