Haitian group in Ohio files criminal complaint against Trump, Vance

A grassroots immigrant advocacy group filed a complaint seeking criminal charges in Springfield, Ohio, against former President Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance (R), over their role in elevating false allegations about Haitian immigrants abducting and eating local pets.

The complaint, filed by Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) in Clark County Municipal Court, alleges that Trump and Vance, by amplifying those claims, had a “direct impact” in spurring the 33 bomb threats that rocked the southwest Ohio city.

“Like those who falsely shout ‘fire!’ in a crowded theater, Trump and Vance do not color within the lines of the First Amendment. They commit criminal acts,” the group said.

HBA Executive Director Guerline Jozef filed the document, backed by an affidavit alleging Trump and Vance committed seven separate offenses, including disrupting public services, making false alarms, aggravated menacing, complicity and telecommunications harassment.

The Hill has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment.

“HBA filed this criminal charge to hold Trump and Vance accountable for the devastating harm they caused our community in Springfield and has impacted Haitians around the United States,” said Jozef in a statement.

“Thirty-three bomb threats have been alleged across Springfield within the last two weeks. Hospitals, schools, universities, and government offices were all evacuated after receiving racially charged threats. Springfield government officials and their families received threats. Trump and Vance’s lies have harmed the Springfield community, and their lies have violated criminal law.”

Individuals and private organizations cannot file criminal charges. Generally, criminal proceedings are initiated by district attorneys filing complaints, grand jury indictments or law enforcement citations.

HBA’s complaint does not mean that Trump and Vance have been charged with crimes related to their rhetoric about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, but through it, the grassroots advocacy group is requesting the court to either file arrest warrants against the GOP nominees or refer the matter to a district attorney.

According to the complaint, Trump and Vance’s public statements on Haitian immigrants surpass the probable cause standard necessary to formally charge them with the alleged crimes.

“Investigation is neither needed nor requested. Despite the facts presented in the affidavit being open and notorious for the world to see, the prosecuting attorney has not yet acted to protect the community and hold Trump and Vance accountable for the harm they have instigated. Thus, the Haitian Bridge Alliance and Ms. Jozef request this Court, independently, to find probable cause based on the facts presented and issue arrest warrants for both Trump and Vance,” reads the complaint.

HBA added later in the document that “if anyone else had done what they have done, to the devastating effect experienced in Springfield, police and prosecutors would have filed charges by now.”

The affidavit backing the complaint alleges that Haitians in Springfield have suffered direct threats and mockery since Vance provided a national platform for the false allegations.

Springfield’s national profile skyrocketed after the vice presidential nominee referenced reports of pet abductions in a social media post, and later that week, Trump directly accused immigrants in Springfield of “eating the pets of the people that live there.”

“In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs,” he said during his debate with Vice President Harris in a moment that went viral.

There is no public evidence of such incidents, and state and local officials, including Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, have denounced the falsehoods.

There is evidence, however, that far-right white supremacist groups either played a role in disseminating the false information or have sought to benefit from the national attention.

“HBA is non-partisan, this is not about one candidate or political party. 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,” said Jozef.

—Updated at 3:57 p.m.