This to me is one of those classic TPM stories. In fact, the man at the center of the story, James Russell Bolton Jr., is an embodiment of the Trump Era. Bolton runs a militia. But on the side he was posing as a Mexican drug cartel allegedly kidnapping his wife in order to extort money from the dorks who had joined his militia.
LATEST
Where Things Stand
Violent Criminals Make Up Tiny Fraction of Immigrants Targeted By Trump Admin
02.09.26 | 6:20 pm
Morning Memo
A Brutal 5th Circuit Ruling Promises More ICE Chaos
02.09.26 | 11:24 am
Cafe
Behind the Misguided Bipartisan Push to Muzzle Free Speech OnlineĀ
02.09.26 | 7:00 am
The Weekender
Republicans Rouse Themselves to Denounce Trump Posting the Obamas as Apes
02.07.26 | 8:00 am