A Tennessee man who was "very upset" with both President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, is facing charges for allegedly plotting to burn down Musk's AI facility in Memphis.
Ethan Paul Early, of Ashland City, was arrested on Feb. 19 and charged with an act of terrorism, police said. He remains in the Cheatham County jail on a $500,000 bond.
A tipster alerted investigators that Early had been plotting to take down one of Musk's Memphis data centers using Thermite. "Burn down one of Elon Musk's data centers using Thermite," Early allegedly told the caller, according to an affidavit.
The incendiary substance, a mix of aluminum powder and metal oxide, burns at scorching temperatures hot enough for welding and demolition.
Early had already begun gathering materials to make Thermite but later got rid of them after friends convinced him to abandon the plan, the caller told investigators.
Early admitted he was "very upset" with Trump and Musk and had researched how to make Thermite when questioned by police. He claimed he got rid of the Thermite components on Feb. 17, authorities said.
Early initially referenced an "AI factory in Memphis" as his target, authorities said per local news.
"Good friends had talked me out of it," Early told police, according to the affidavit.
Early admitted he "had gotten too wrapped up in politics and went too far down the deep end."
He also expressed regret, reportedly telling investigators he "felt like he had to do something" but was "ashamed of himself to get so carried away."
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