The backlash against the electric vehicle company has turned violent at times, as its billionaire chief executive parlays his support for President Trump into consequential influence over the federal government.

Several protests have popped up outside a Chicago Tesla dealership, and one Cybertruck owner says he's flipped off regularly. Those looking to ditch the vehicles are out of luck as well — car sellers say they can't offload them.

Discontent with Elon Musk has spurred a nationwide protest movement that aims to cut off the profits for the billionaire’s lucrative car business, EV maker Tesla. Now, Trump-aligned lawmakers are lobbying for the Justice Department to go after protesters in what seems like a blatantly oligarchic weaponization of the nation’s justice system.