Haitian group files criminal charges against Trump, Vance over pet-eating claims
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Former President Trump and Sen. JD Vance in New York City on Sept. 11. Photo: Adam Gray / AFP via Getty Images
A Haitian organization in Ohio filed criminal charges against former President Trump and running mate Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) on Tuesday, alleging the pair has caused harm by spreading baseless smears about Haitian immigrants.
The big picture: Trump and Vance have continuously amplified a false online conspiracy theory about Haitian immigrants eating pets in Springfield, Ohio, elevating an internet rumor to the national stage.
- The FBI is investigating threats and intimidation of Haitians in Springfield — many of whom are living and working there legally.
Zoom in: The head of Haitian Bridge Alliance brought charges on behalf of the organization Tuesday in Clark County Municipal Court under an Ohio statute that allows private citizens to file criminal charges.
- The nonprofit is asking the court to affirm there is probable cause that Trump and Vance committed crimes and to issue arrest warrants for both men.
- The charges include disrupting public service, making false alarms, committing telecommunications harassment, committing aggravated menacing and violating the prohibition against complicity.
What they're saying: The group said they filed criminal charges to hold Trump and Vance accountable "for the devastating harm they caused our community in Springfield and has impacted Haitians around the United States."
- Their "lies have harmed the Springfield community, and their lies have violated criminal law," the group said in a press release. "This is about confronting white supremacy, anti-Black rhetoric, and hate speech that seems to be a constant in U.S. politics and that continues to cause suffering. No one is above the law."
- Subodh Chandra, lead counsel on the case, said in a statement that "The Haitian community is suffering in fear because of Trump and Vance's relentless, irresponsible, false alarms, and public services have been disrupted."
- The pair "must be held accountable to the rule of law. Anyone else who wreaked havoc the way they did would have been arrested by now," Chandra said, adding, "They think they're above the law. They're not."
In response to a request for comment about the charges, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said, "President Trump is rightfully highlighting the failed immigration system that Kamala Harris has overseen, bringing thousands of illegal immigrants pouring into communities like Springfield and many others across the country."
- The Census Bureau's 2024 Current Population Survey' showed 68.7% of Haitians born outside of the U.S. are naturalized U.S. citizens.
Zoom out: Among other comments about Haitian immigrants, Trump said during the presidential debate this month, "In Springfield, they're eating the dogs, the people that came in. They're eating the cats. They're eating the pets of the people that live there."
- Vance has peddled the same claims and admitted they were likely false — while still encouraging their supporters to share them.
- "If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that's what I'm going to do," Vance told CNN.
Catch up quick: A number of Republican officials have shared false claims that Haitian immigrants are killing and eating pets in Springfield, Ohio.
- The rumors spread rampantly on social media, amplified by several lawmakers and public figures criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris' record on the border.
- Local officials have said they received no credible reports substantiating the accounts.
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