A supposed grassroots organization is demanding criminal charges be brought against former President Donald Trump and Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) for spreading claims that Haitian migrants were kidnapping and eating people’s cats and dogs.
The Haitian Bridge Alliance alleged that Trump and Vance inspired 33 bomb threats against Springfield, Ohio, after making the claims about Haitian migrants.
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.
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“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.”
The complaint noted that “Investigation is neither needed nor requested” and that “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.”
Here’s an interesting tidbit about HBA. The organization is funded by George Soros’ Open Society Foundation. The organization shelled out $50,000 to HBA in 2020 and $500,000 in 2021, according to its website.
In a statement, the organization announced its donations to various organizations created to assist Haitian immigrants. It explained that the funding “will help provide legal services to Haitian asylum seekers arriving at the southwest border and support advocacy to protect their rights” and will “enable Black-led organizations to champion more broadly the humane treatment of all Black immigrants seeking safety and stability in the United States.”
Of course, this demand is likely to go nowhere. For starters, private organizations cannot file criminal charges – this falls under the purview of the prosecutor’s office.
Moreover, there is no evidence that either Trump or Vance instructed anyone to issue bomb threats. This case likely would fall far below the standard for convicting someone of inciting violence, threats, or other illegal activity. The state is not allowed to go after people simply because others used their comments to issue threats or engage in other types of unlawful behavior.
Perhaps if this weren’t merely a political stunt coming from the left and HBA actually cared about keeping their communities safe, they would push the authorities to identify and arrest those who actually made the threats since they are the ones who committed a crime. Instead, they opted for political grandstanding. But what else would we expect?
