Mo. AG Bailey to Newsmax: Outraged by Release of Trans Suspect

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said "outrage" was his first reaction when he learned a judge had released a Tesla arson suspect from federal custody due to gender transitioning needs, telling Newsmax on Tuesday it's the "height of absurdity."

Bailey joined "National Report" to discuss the case of Owen McIntire, a 19-year-old who stands accused of firebombing a Tesla dealership in Kansas City, Missouri, in March. The FBI arrested McIntire on April 18 in Boston, where McIntire was a University of Massachusetts physics student.

Days later, U.S. Magistrate Judge Jessica Hedges, in the District of Massachusetts, released McIntire to his parents, writing, "He also receives gender-affirming medical care, which began in March of this year and is likely to be interrupted or terminated entirely if he remains in pretrial detention."

Bailey called the ruling "the height of absurdity."

"We're talking about a teen who made Molotov cocktails and threw them into Tesla dealerships, attacked Tesla charging stations. These are domestic terrorist attacks. We're not talking about simple property damage," Bailey said. "We're talking about politically, ideologically motivated firebombings.

"So why are we letting domestic terrorists out because they want to make a fashion statement about their gender? She doesn't know what private parts God gave her and yet knows how to light a Molotov cocktail? I'm not buying it," he added.

McIntire was charged with unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of malicious damage by fire of any property used in interstate commerce in the destruction of two Cybertrucks that had sale prices of $105,485 and $107,485.

However, Hedges also cited McIntire's diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, depression and gender dysphoria as additional reasons to be released to home confinement to his parents in Parkville, Missouri.

"At the end of the day, the question the court has to ask itself is, is this individual a danger to themselves or others? And on both prongs, it justifies confinement," Bailey said. "She's either a danger to herself because she doesn't understand what gender she is and seems to be having a serious mental health crisis, which means she needs to be confined, or she committed these intentional domestic terrorist acts and is absolutely a future danger. So, sending her home to mommy and daddy is not the right answer."

Bailey added, "At some point, someone's going to get hurt or even worse, killed. … But I'd also like to point out this is ... politically motivated destruction to intimidate the manufacturers, customers and owners of Tesla products."

McIntire waived his right to a preliminary hearing during an appearance in federal court on May 1. Federal prosecutors told the judge they plan to present new evidence to have McIntire's bond revoked, KCTV5 reported.

Bailey also asserted that the decision of Judge Hedges, appointed in 2024, needs to be reviewed by a district court judge.

"I think you also have to look at the fact that this is a U.S. Magistrate Court judge, not a presidentially nominated and Senate confirmed district court judge. And so this needs to be reviewed by the district court judge," he said. "And there needs to be some standards put in place to ensure that the public safety is forefront of mind, not the gender fashion statements of domestic terrorists."

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