The political landscape saw some heated exchanges this past Sunday as Attorney General Pam Bondi and Representative Jasmine Crockett locked horns in a series of fiery media appearances. The controversy centered around demonstrations targeting Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, as well as accusations regarding vandalism that some claim amounts to "domestic terrorism."
During an interview on Fox News, Bondi issued a stern warning to Crockett over her vocal support for a group organizing nonviolent protests against Tesla. Bondi attempted to link these demonstrations to acts of vandalism against the electric car giant, painting them as a larger campaign of destruction.
“She is an elected public official, and so she needs to tread very carefully because nothing will happen to Elon Musk, and we’re going to fight to protect all of the Tesla owners throughout this country,” Bondi declared to host Maria Bartiromo.
However, it didn’t take long for Crockett to fire back. Appearing shortly after on MSNBC with Alex Witt, the Democratic lawmaker made it clear she wasn’t backing down. “I have never promoted violence whatsoever, yet I’ve also never made excuses for those violent actors such as the ones on January 6,” she said.
Crockett took the opportunity to turn the discussion back toward Trump’s history, pointing out, “So, Pam Bondi, if you have an issue with terrorism, maybe you should talk to your boss about locking back up those guys that he let out that participated in January 6.” Her reference to former President Donald Trump’s pardons of individuals involved in the U.S. Capitol riot underscored the ongoing partisan battles over how acts of political violence are defined and prosecuted.
Adding fuel to the fire, Crockett had recently spoken at an event hosted by #TeslaTakedown, a group leading the charge against Musk and his controversial Department of Government Efficiency. This initiative, under Musk’s direction, aims to dramatically cut federal spending, potentially putting thousands of government workers out of a job. The movement against Musk has gained momentum, calling on Tesla owners to sell their vehicles and urging stockholders to divest from the company.
With an estimated 500 demonstrations planned for March 29 at Tesla dealerships across the U.S. and beyond, the #TeslaTakedown movement has been clear in its message: they advocate nonviolent protests. Crockett reiterated this stance on MSNBC, emphasizing, “One of the things that I told people to do is make sure you are adhering to the laws in your area. Make sure you know what it looks like to protest and to be able to raise your voices and to exercise your constitutional right to free speech.”
Despite these assurances, Bondi seized on a specific quote from Crockett’s virtual appearance, where she stated she would like “Elon to be taken down.” Bondi attempted to use this as evidence of incitement, although Crockett had repeatedly clarified her calls for protest were entirely nonviolent.
Beyond the protests, Tesla has been facing a wave of vandalism incidents at its dealerships, an issue that Bondi and other officials have escalated by labeling it as “domestic terrorism.” While there has been no direct link established between #TeslaTakedown and these acts of vandalism, Bondi has remained firm in her stance. “We are not coming off these charges. We are looking at everything,” she declared on Sunday.
As the controversy unfolds, the debate over corporate activism, free speech, and political accountability continues to intensify. With both sides digging in their heels, it remains to be seen how this battle between one of the world's most influential business magnates and his critics in government will play out. One thing is certain—this fight is far from over.
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