SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — A nonprofit organization advocating for Haitian migrants is looking to file criminal charges against former President Donald Trump and his running mate Ohio Sen. JD Vance.
The Haitian Bridge Alliance alleges that the false claims made by the presidential and vice presidential candidates about the Haitian immigrant community disrupted public services and caused false alarms.
The court filing stemmed from false allegations that the Haitian community in Springfield is abducting and eating neighbors’ pets.
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According to The Chandra Law Firm, the nonprofit seeks that the two Republican politicians be charged with disrupting public service, making false claims, committing telecommunications harassment, committing aggravated menacing and violating the prohibition against complicity.
Under Ohio Revised Codes 2935.09 and 2935.01(A), the law grants private citizens the ability to "file an affidavit charging the offense committed." It also requires the court to either issue arrest warrants or refer the case to the prosecuting attorney for investigation.
The organization is asking the Clark County Municipal Court to determine where there is probable cause for the allegations and that an arrest warrant be issued for Trump and Vance.
The small Dayton suburb has been in the national spotlight since the false claims were amplified by Trump and Vance.
Springfield city officials acknowledged growing pains from the influx of some 15,000 Haitian immigrants but say there’s no evidence to support the claim they are consuming anyone’s pets. Gov. Mike DeWine also debunked the claims and said the rhetoric is hurtful to residents in Springfield.
More than 30 bomb threats have been made against schools, government buildings and city offiicals’ homes since last week, forcing evacuations and closures. Springfield also canceled its annual celebration of diversity, arts and culture in response to the threats. State police were even deployed to city schools.
“The Haitian community is suffering in fear because of Trump and Vance’s relentless, irresponsible, false alarms, and public services have been disrupted. Trump and Vance must be held accountable to the rule of law. Anyone else who wreaked havoc the way they did would have been arrested by now,” said Subodh Chandra, the lawyer representing the Haitian Bridge Alliance.
10TV reached out to Trump's and Harris' campaigns for comment.