A Texas man who is allegedly wanted by the U.S. Marshals for drug trafficking has sparked widespread condemnation after appearing on the Russian “frontline” in Ukraine.
In a video highlighted by The Independent, Russell Bonner Bentley III, who goes by the name “Comrade Texas“ or “Tejas” in Russia, was seen cheering a Russian convoy and promoting the invading forces as “liberators” of Ukraine.
“It’s Tejas on the front line with the deNazifiers and liberators of Ukraine,” Mr Bentley said while standing in front of Russian tanks on Monday. “These guys are tough, these guys are ready, and there’s plenty of them”.
He continued by saying that Russia was “ready to bring the hammer down” on the “bad guys”, and air-kicked an imaginary Ukrainian.
Social media users slammed Bently for spreading misinformation and participating in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
According to Texas Monthly, “Bentley had been an Army engineer based in Germany, a marijuana legalization activist in Minnesota and Alaska, and a drug trafficker on the run from the U.S. Marshals.
While his video was taken down on YouTube on Wednesday, the clip was shared on Twitter by user “Bad Weapons Takes” where it has been viewed more than 2 million times.
Watch:
— Bad Weapon Takes (@BadWeaponTakes) February 28, 2022