FBI Launches Terrorism Task Force Into Tesla Attacks
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/fbi-task-force-tesla-attacks/2025/03/24/id/1204126/
Monday, 24 March 2025 04:26 PM EDT
The FBI launched a multiagency task force to investigate the domestic terrorism incidents involving nearly 50 reported attacks on Tesla vehicles, charging stations, and dealerships.
The FBI's director of public affairs confirmed the task force in Monday a post on X, first reported earlier in the day by the New York Post.
"Can confirm," Ben Williamson said in the social media post. "The FBI has launched a Task Force in conjunction with ATF to coordinate investigative activity and crack down on violent Tesla attacks."
The 10-person task force, which also includes personnel from the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, including its Domestic Terrorism Operations Section and Weapons of Mass Destruction, is investigating the 48 known instances of attacks on Tesla cars and Cybertrucks, the Post reported.
Tesla Inc. is owned by White House senior adviser Elon Musk.
Special agents and intelligence analysts from ATF are embedding in FBI field offices, beginning in San Antonio, where multiple instances of arson attacks using Molotov cocktails on vehicles have occurred, the Post reported.
Also in Texas, CNBC reported that FBI agents arrived in Austin on Monday after police found incendiary devices placed at a Tesla showroom. Tesla is based in the state's capital.
"When officers arrived on scene, they located suspicious devices and called the APD Bomb Squad to investigate," the Austin Police Department said in a statement. "The devices, which were determined to be incendiary, were taken into police custody without incident."
Attorney General Pam Bondi last week called the spate of attacks domestic terrorism while announcing three arrests.
"Let this be a warning: If you join this wave of domestic terrorism against Tesla properties, the Department of Justice will put you behind bars," she said in a statement.
The FBI is also investigating a blog from Salt Lake City calling for a "Tesla Takedown" on March 29, the Post reported. The blog is calling for a global day of action — 500 demonstrations — at all Tesla showrooms and Supercharger stations worldwide.
"We’re talking about coordinated, violent acts targeting a specific company, motivated by ideological beliefs — whether environmental, political, or social," Rob Chadwick, a former FBI supervisory special agent, told the Post. "The FBI defines domestic terrorism as violent, criminal acts committed by individuals or groups within the United States, motivated by domestic ideological goals, to intimidate or coerce a civilian population or influence government policy."
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114219595493461211
Yeah, I couldn't get it to screen shot the bottom part.
and…
Stocks Score Hefty Gains; Nvidia & Tesla Rally
https://www.newsmax.com/finance/streettalk/stocks-tariffs-ease/2025/03/24/id/1204123/
Monday, 24 March 2025 04:09 PM EDT
The S&P 500 rose sharply to end at its highest in over two weeks Monday, lifted by Nvidia and Tesla following signs that the Trump administration might take a more measured approach on tariffs against U.S. trading partners.
U.S. President Donald Trump had anticipated applying broad levies starting on April 2 but a set of sector-specific tariffs is now likely to be excluded, according to media reports over the weekend citing administration officials.
A Trump administration official on Monday cautioned that the situation was fluid and no final decisions had been made.
Investors scooped up battered technology shares, with Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices both rallying. Tesla surged, recovering some of its recent steep decline, helped by optimism about scaled back U.S. tariffs.
Financial markets have been volatile in recent weeks due to fears of inflation and an economic downturn after Trump announced a series of tariffs last month on major U.S. trading partners, including China, Mexico and Canada.
The S&P 500 has recovered about 4% from its recent low on March 13, and it remains down around 6% from its February 19 record high close.
"Investors are experiencing a slight sigh of relief, but at the same time they are cynical about how long this may last," said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA Research. "The causes of this manufactured correction have not evaporated. They are tariffs and what the impact of tariffs could be on economic growth, inflation and corporate profits."
Several companies have cited tariff uncertainty as they lowered their forecasts for upcoming quarters. Data compiled by LSEG as of Friday showed earnings of companies in the S&P 500 are expected to grow by 10.5% in 2025, down by 3.5 percentage points since the beginning of the year.
According to preliminary data, the S&P 500 gained 99.18 points, or 1.75%, to end at 5,765.15 points, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 404.54 points, or 2.27%, to 18,188.59. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 585.86 points, or 1.40%, to 42,571.21.
A survey showed U.S. business activity picked up in March, while growing fears over import tariffs and deep government spending cuts continued to weigh on sentiment. Investors are awaiting data this week, including the Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) price index - the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge - on Friday.
Dun & Bradstreet climbed after the data and analytics provider agreed to be acquired by private equity firm Clearlake Capital in a $7.7 billion deal.
Lockheed Martin fell after BofA Global Research downgraded the weapons maker to "neutral" from "buy."
Crypto stocks rallied with a 4% rise in bitcoin prices , with MicroStrategy and Coinbase both advancing.