A grassroots immigrant advocacy group, Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA), filed a criminal complaint in Clark County Municipal Court in Springfield, Ohio, against former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance (R). The complaint stemmed from their propagation of false rumors that local dogs were being kidnapped and eaten by Haitian immigrants, which, according to HBA, had detrimental effects on the neighborhood.
The case, filed by HBA Executive Director Guerline Jozef, claimed that by promoting these baseless allegations, Trump and Vance were directly responsible for the spike in 33 bomb threats in the Springfield region. Jozef said that their behavior was similar to the risky act of yelling "fire!" in front of a packed theater, implying that they were not using their First Amendment rights but rather participating in criminal activity.
The HBA document listed seven distinct violations that Trump and Vance were accused of committing, including telecommunications harassment, aggravated threats, false alarms, disruption of public services, and collaboration. The goal of the lawsuit, according to Jozef, was to hold both political personalities responsible for the harm done to the Springfield community, which has also had a negative impact on Haitians living in the United States.
Several bomb threats had caused evacuations from a number of Springfield locations, including hospitals, schools, universities, and government buildings, in the two weeks before the complaint was filed. Threats that were deemed to be racially tinged also went after government employees and their families. Jozef maintained that Trump and Vance's speech broke criminal law and emphasized the negative impact of their remarks on the community.
It is crucial to remember that criminal charges cannot be brought on their own by private parties or persons. District attorneys often file charges, grand jury indictments, or law enforcement citations to start criminal proceedings. Therefore, HBA's complaint functions as a request for the court to either issue arrest warrants or submit the case to a district attorney, even if it does not automatically result in criminal charges against Trump and Vance.
According to the HBA's complaint, Trump and Vance's public remarks on Haitian immigrants satisfied the requirements for criminal charges. The paper said that since the facts were well known and the prosecution had not taken any action to shield the public from the harm the defendants were alleged to have caused, no additional inquiry was required or asked for. The lawsuit asked the court to determine probable cause using the information presented and to issue warrants for Vance's and Trump's arrest.
The affidavit supporting the case also described the threats and derision that the local Haitian community had to endure after Vance's nationwide amplification of the fraudulent charges. After Vance made mention to tales of pet abductions on social media, the issue became more heated. Later, in a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump said that immigrants in Springfield were "eating the pets of the people that live there." This statement became a viral moment, exacerbating the already heightened emotions in the neighborhood.
Despite these fiery declarations, there was no public proof to back the reports of pet abductions. State and municipal leaders, including Republican Governor Mike DeWine, blasted the distortions surrounding the claims.
The far-right white nationalist organizations' role in disseminating false information about the accusations was also included in the complaint. Jozef stated that HBA’s goals were non-partisan, noting that the issue transcended party boundaries. She claimed that hate speech, anti-Black language, and white supremacy were ongoing problems in American politics that have exacerbated the suffering of disadvantaged people. Accordingly, the lawsuit sought to address these concerns.
As he closed, Jozef emphasized the group's dedication to responsibility and justice for the Springfield community by stating that no one is above the law, regardless of status.