A Haitian nonprofit organization in Springfield, Ohio, has filed citizen criminal charges against former President Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance, accusing them of spreading false claims that have incited chaos and threats in the community. The charges stem from allegations made by Mr. Trump and Mr. Vance that Haitian immigrants in Springfield have been eating local pets-a claim local officials have repeatedly debunked.
Guerline Jozef, co-founder and executive director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance, filed the charges on behalf of the organization after the local prosecutor took no action. "Over the last two weeks, both Trump and Vance led an effort to vilify and threaten the Haitian community in Springfield," Ms. Jozef stated. "Together, they spread and amplified the debunked claim that Haitian immigrants in Springfield are eating cats, dogs, and wildlife."
The charges filed include disrupting public services, making false alarms, telecommunications harassment, aggravated menacing, and complicity. The filing requests the Clark County Municipal Court to determine probable cause and issue arrest warrants for Mr. Trump and Mr. Vance. Ohio law permits private citizens to file affidavits charging individuals with crimes, although a hearing must occur before the affidavits can proceed. As of Tuesday afternoon, no hearing had been scheduled.
Subodh Chandra, the attorney representing the Haitian Bridge Alliance, emphasized the seriousness of the situation. "If it were anyone else other than Trump and Vance who had done what they've done-wreak havoc on Springfield, resulting in bomb threats, evacuated and closed government buildings and schools, threats to the mayor and his family-they would have been arrested by now," Mr. Chandra said. "They are not above the law."
The controversy began during a recent presidential debate when Mr. Trump claimed that Haitians in Springfield are "eating the pets of the people that live there." He has continued to assert these allegations on social media and at rallies. Senator Vance has echoed these claims, stating on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) about reports alleging "that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn't be in this country."
City officials have categorically denied these allegations. Springfield police issued a statement saying there were "no credible reports" of Haitian immigrants harming pets. Mayor Rob Rue has faced death threats amid the escalating tensions, and over 30 bomb threats have been directed at state and local government buildings and schools in Springfield, leading to closures and evacuations.
Steven Cheung, communications director for the Trump-Vance campaign, defended the former president's statements. "President Trump is rightfully highlighting the failed immigration system that [Vice President] Kamala Harris has overseen, bringing thousands of illegal immigrants pouring into communities like Springfield and many others across the country," Mr. Cheung said in a statement.
However, city officials have affirmed that the Haitian immigrants in Springfield are legally residing in the United States. The 15,000 to 20,000 Haitian immigrants who have arrived in Springfield over the past several years have been granted Temporary Protected Status, allowing them to live and work in the country legally. Many were recruited for local jobs, contributing to the community's economy.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, has also dismissed the pet-eating allegations as "garbage." In an op-ed published in The New York Times, Gov. DeWine addressed the influx of Haitian immigrants, stating, "They are there legally. They are there to work." He challenged claims that they had settled unlawfully and emphasized the importance of their contributions to the local workforce.
The filing of criminal charges by the Haitian Bridge Alliance is a rare but not unprecedented action in Ohio. Such charges by private citizens often require a preliminary hearing to assess their validity before moving forward. "Their persistence and relentlessness, even in the face of the governor and the mayor saying this is false, that shows intent," Mr. Chandra said regarding Mr. Trump and Mr. Vance. "It's knowing, willful flouting of criminal law."
Members of Springfield's Haitian community have expressed fear for their safety amid the rising hostility. Some residents have reported feeling threatened by the public vitriol, and the community has faced increased scrutiny following the false allegations. "We are concerned about the safety and well-being of our community members," Ms. Jozef said.
The situation in Springfield highlights the broader national debate over immigration and the spread of misinformation. The Haitian Bridge Alliance and its supporters argue that inflammatory and unfounded statements by prominent political figures can have real-world consequences, including threats to public safety and community cohesion.
