Guerline Jozef, the leader of a Haitian nonprofit community group, has filed criminal charges against former President Donald Trump and his running mate Senator JD Vance for spreading false claims about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, eating local pets. The charges include disrupting public services, making false alarms, complicity, telecommunications harassment, and aggravated menacing. Jozef’s attorney, Subodh Chandra, emphasized the need for Trump and Vance to be held accountable for their actions. Trump and Vance have continued to spread these false claims despite city officials and Governor Mike DeWine stating that they are not true.
The Trump-Vance campaign communications director, Steven Cheung, defended Trump’s statements by pointing to immigration issues overseen by Kamala Harris, while Jozef and Chandra have called for their arrests. This false claim has led to an increase in bomb threats in Springfield, with over 33 threats causing evacuations and temporary closings of schools and buildings.
City officials have stated that there are no credible reports of Haitian immigrants harming pets. Governor DeWine has also confirmed that Haitian immigrants in Springfield are there legally and are working, challenging the narrative being pushed by Trump and Vance. The charges filed by Jozef are aimed at holding Trump and Vance accountable for spreading harmful misinformation about the Haitian community in Springfield.
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