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Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D) has fired back at Attorney General Pam Bondi's warning to "tread very carefully" when it comes to her criticism of Tesla CEO and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) head Elon Musk.
During a Sunday (March 23) appearance on Fox News, Bondi seemingly threatened Crockett over her involvement with #TeslaTakedown, a group organizing nonviolent protests against Musk. Bondi attempted to link the group's nonviolent protests with a string of vandalism incidents that have occurred at Tesla, which she characterized as "domestic terrorism.
“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 said of Crockett after the Democratic lawmaker spoke at a virtual event for the group last week.
Later on Sunday, Crockett appeared on MSNBC, where she responded to the Attorney General's comments.
“I have never promoted violence whatsoever, yet I’ve also never made excuse for those violent actors such as the ones on January 6,” Crockett said, noting how President Donald Trump has issued pardons for the rioters who attacked the Capitol.
“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.”
The #TeslaTakedown group has organized nonviolent demonstrations at Tesla locations across the country in opposition to Musk and DOGE amid mass government layoffs and funding cuts to federal agencies. The group has also urged Tesla owners to sell their vehicles and for stockholders to drop their shares.
“This is a nonviolent protest that they’re calling for,” Crockett said during her MSNBC appearance. “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.”
During last week's virtual event, Crockett called for "Elon to be taken down." The quote was an apparent reference to the #TeslaTakedown name but was latched onto by Bondi as she tried to link the group's efforts to the "domestic terrorism" taking place in unrelated incidents at Tesla dealerships.
Bondi said Sunday that her office is pursuing charges against the alleged vandal attacks at Tesla.
“We are not coming off these charges. We are looking at everything," she said.
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