Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) on CNN denounced false claims that Haitians in Springfield, part of the district he represents, have been eating residents’ pets, a theory politicians including former President Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), have amplified.
“This is incredibly tragic and completely untrue. This should not have happened, it’s been tearing the community apart,” Turner told Jake Tapper.
“I have not heard that they’ve continued these statements, though, Jake. I do think that they have moved on,” he added.
Since the false comments about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, the city has received at least 30 bomb threats, and at least two schools and two colleges temporarily closed, CNN reported Monday.
Officials in Springfield have said the claims are unfounded.
Wittenberg University in Springfield moved its classes online and canceled on-campus activities starting Monday and through Sunday, following threats received by the school, according to a campus alert.
It also noted that both campus and city police would have an “increased presence in and around our campus.”
Springfield Mayor Rob Rue issued an emergency proclamation Thursday, allowing the city to address public safety concerns more quickly following the false claims and amid the threats.
“Ensuring the safety of Springfield’s residents is our top priority,” Rue said about the proclamation in a statement reported by Spectrum News. “We are addressing these threats with the seriousness they warrant and are taking immediate steps to ensure the security of both our community and our employees. Our commitment to preventing harm is unwavering.”
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) announced Monday that he would be sending state Highway Patrol officers to monitor schools starting Tuesday “to provide security throughout the school day and during dismissal.
DeWine had said that “many of these threats are coming in from overseas, made by those who want to fuel the current discord surrounding Springfield.”
DeWine did not blame Trump for the recent wave of bomb threats, saying the Biden administration’s border and immigration policies are legitimate issues to debate, The Hill reported Tuesday.
The Hill has contacted the Trump campaign for comment.