Two former federal employees, Justin and Emily Fisher, have been charged with multiple counts of vandalizing Tesla vehicles in Washington, D.C., sparking alarm over politically motivated attacks on Elon Musk’s company. Their arrests come amid a broader trend of targeted vandalism against Teslas nationwide, prompting the FBI to classify such acts as domestic terrorism.

Justin, a former statistician for the Government Accountability Office, and Emily, a former Foreign Service officer and nonprofit executive, are accused of defacing vehicles with vulgar messages in the Capitol Hill area throughout March. Police reports reveal disturbing phrases, including references to Nazi support and attacks on the Department of Education.

The Fishers released a statement through their attorneys claiming their actions were “non-violent and non-destructive,” asserting no property was damaged. Their legal team emphasized confidence in the judicial process and the expectation of fair treatment under the law.

Despite public outrage and calls for harsher punishment, the couple currently faces only misdemeanor charges. These carry potential penalties of up to $5,000 and one year in jail per offense. Prosecutors have not filed hate crime charges, despite pressure from the community and the Trump administration’s strong rhetoric.