But in a scary voice this time.
But in a scary voice this time.
Richard Lawler is a senior editor following news across tech, culture, policy, and entertainment. He joined The Verge in 2021 after several years covering news at Engadget.
As reports of vandalism and even a supposed doxing website targeting Tesla locations and vehicles continue to appear, Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a new warning about old crimes. In a Department of Justice press release, she “announced charges against three individuals responsible for the violent destruction of Tesla properties.”
It didn’t mention that all of the arrests and charges listed had already been reported days or weeks ago.
The charges Bondi touted as evidence that “The days of committing crimes without consequence have ended” include three alleged attackers using Molotov cocktails.
Lucy Nelson is facing malicious destruction of property and firearms charges filed on March 5th in Colorado. Adam Lansky was charged on March 5th in Oregon with illegally possessing an unregistered destructive device. Daniel Clarke-Pounder was arrested and charged on March 14th in relation to an arson a week earlier at a Tesla charging station in South Carolina.
If Bondi has any new news or information about the investigations into “those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes,” that she referenced after fires in Las Vegas and Kansas City, she hasn’t released it, choosing instead to rely on the previously announced arrests to drum up new headlines. The newest information about the crimes that we found is a report by 404 Media that looked into the indictments, showing how law enforcement used license plate readers and social media posts to help identify suspects.
