Scott Bottoms, a Republican candidate running for Colorado governor in the primary, faced significant embarrassment during a public event when local journalist Kyle Clark challenged his earlier statements about Venezuelan gang activity in the state.Bottoms had claimed that there were upwards of 45,000 to 50,000 members of the Tren de Aragua gang present in Colorado.Clark pointed out that this figure was implausibly high, representing 10 to 20 times the gang's estimated worldwide membership.

Under pressure, Bottoms admitted he had misunderstood information provided by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents regarding the number of Venezuelan asylum seekers arriving in the Denver metro area.He clarified that he confused the total number of Venezuelan immigrants with gang members and acknowledged the error after double-checking with ICE.

The moderator also questioned Bottoms about claims that local sheriffs had agreed to be deputized specifically to combat these gangs, which Bottoms appeared to have overstated.

The incident highlights ongoing political rhetoric around immigration and Venezuelan gangs, particularly Tren de Aragua, which gained attention during the 2024 presidential election cycle through statements from MAGA politicians and influencers.

Bottoms' walk-back underscores the importance of verifying information before making public assertions on sensitive topics like crime and immigration.This event occurred amid broader discussions on election integrity, conspiracy theories, and political accountability within the Republican Party.