“Clean energy exec, ex-federal worker charged with defacing Tesla vehicles”

A former federal employee and his wife, an executive at a green energy nonprofit, have been charged in connection with a series of incidents involving the defacement of Tesla vehicles in Washington, D.C.’s Capitol Hill neighborhood.

According to The Washington Post, the ongoing investigation is considering the incidents as potential hate crimes. Authorities report that six separate acts of vandalism have been documented, including one vehicle that was targeted twice. Messages referencing Elon Musk were found on several vehicles, including one parked outside an elementary school.

The suspects, identified as Justin and Emily Fisher, released a joint statement through their attorneys, describing themselves as longtime residents of the District who voluntarily cooperated with law enforcement. “Our understanding is that the allegations in this case involve non-violent and non-destructive conduct that resulted in no property damage,” the statement said. “We trust that the government and the court system will treat our clients with fairness and proportionality.”

The defaced messages reportedly included phrases such as “Go Doge I support Musk killing the dept of Education,” “I love Musk and hate the Fed Gov’t,” and “Ask me about my support of Nazis.”

Several of the affected vehicles were located within a 10-block radius of the Fishers’ residence. The couple received citations requiring them to appear in court at a later date. As the charges are classified as misdemeanors, they were not taken into custody and were released following standard processing procedures.

In Washington, D.C., the offense of defacing private property carries a potential penalty of up to one year in jail and a $5,000 fine. At this time, prosecutors have not pursued hate crime enhancements, which could elevate potential penalties.

Emily Fisher is employed as an executive at the Smart Electric Power Alliance, a nonprofit organization advocating for carbon-free energy solutions. This detail has drawn additional attention due to the environmental nature of Tesla’s electric vehicles.

Federal authorities have not commented on whether additional charges or enhancements will be brought as the investigation continues.

Original source article posted here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/04/04/tesla-vandalism-arrests-dc/