Haitian Nonprofit Leader Files Charges Against Trump Over False Claims
TL/DR –
The leader of a Haitian nonprofit community group, Guerline Jozef, has filed criminal charges against former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, over false claims they made about Haitian immigrants eating local pets in Springfield, Ohio. The charges, brought on behalf of the Haitian Bridge Alliance, include disrupting public services, making false alarms, complicity, telecommunications harassment, and aggravated menacing. The false claims have been repeatedly debunked and city officials have affirmed that Haitian immigrants had not arrived in Springfield illegally.
Haitian Nonprofit Files Criminal Charges Against Trump and JD Vance Over False Claims
The executive director of Haitian Bridge Alliance, Guerline Jozef, has filed criminal charges against Donald Trump and Sen. JD Vance of Ohio for spreading baseless accusations that Haitian immigrants were consuming pets in Springfield, Ohio.
“Trump and Vance have led a malicious effort to endanger and defame the Haitian community,” said Jozef. She asserted that the duo has been amplifying a debunked claim about Haitians in Springfield engaging in pet consumption.
Subodh Chandra, the group’s lawyer, mentioned inaction from a prosecuting attorney as a reason for Jozef to file charges as a private citizen.
Ohio law permits private citizens to file affidavits charging individuals with crimes, yet hearings must occur before such affidavits can proceed. No hearings have been scheduled as of Tuesday afternoon.
The charges against Trump and Vance include disrupting public services, making false alarms, complicity, telecommunications harassment, and aggravated menacing. The filing requested Clark County Municipal Court to find probable cause and issue arrest warrants for Trump and Vance.
Steven Cheung, the Trump-Vance campaign’s communications director, defended Trump by highlighting issues with the immigration system. Springfield city officials have consistently refuted the claim that Haitian immigrants have arrived illegally.
Trump has continued to circulate misleading claims about pets in Springfield at his rallies and on his social media platform, even after officials’ refutations.
Vance has also made similar false statements, stating that residents’ pets were being stolen and consumed by unauthorized individuals.
Springfield has had to respond to over 33 bomb threats this month leading to temporary closures of schools and civic buildings. Mayor Rob Rue also faced threats, according to Chandra.
Police in Springfield have called these allegations baseless, stating there were “no credible reports” of any such incidents. Officials have also countered claims that the Haitian immigrants were in the city illegally.
Reported by Zoë Richards for NBC News.
Contributions by The Associated Press.
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