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HAITIAN GROUP IN OHIO FILES CRIMINAL COMPLAINT AGAINST TRUMP, VANCE
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Rafael Bernal
September 24, 2024
The Hill
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_ 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. _
HBA Files Charges Against Trump Vance, AP
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
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had a “direct impact” in spurring the 33 bomb threats that rocked
the southwest Ohio city
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“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
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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.
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
[[link removed]],
had a “direct impact” in spurring the 33 bomb threats that rocked
the southwest Ohio city
[[link removed]].
“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
[[link removed]],
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
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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._
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material
may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
* Haitians; Springfield
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* Ohio; Trump;
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