Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance admitted to spreading baseless rumors that Haitian immigrants were stealing and eating pets in Springfield, Ohio in order to get media attention on his and Donald Trump’s criticisms of U.S. border policies. Despite claims from officials in Springfield that these rumors were untrue and the fact that the woman who started the rumor had no firsthand knowledge, Vance did not express regret for amplifying the claims. He also dismissed the notion that Trump’s comments had led to threatening calls and bomb threats in Springfield.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine condemned the claims made by Trump about Haitian immigrants eating pets, calling them “hurtful” and “not helpful.” Springfield City Manager Bryan Heck also stated there was no evidence of any pets being harmed or eaten by the immigrant population in the city. Vance and Trump were criticized for spreading misinformation and creating fear within the community.
Vance defended his actions by stating that he was highlighting the suffering caused by Kamala Harris’ open border policies and that they had successfully brought attention to the issue. He argued that talking about the problems caused by immigration was important despite the threats of violence and misinformation being spread. The controversy surrounding the false claims of pet theft and consumption by Haitian immigrants in Springfield highlighted the impact of spreading false information and the importance of fact-checking in public discourse.
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