SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Criminal charges were filed against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, today, for allegedly spreading false rumors that Haitian immigrants in Springfield were eating pets, according to WSYX Columbus. Guerline Jozef, leader of the Haitian Bridge Alliance, filed the charges under an Ohio law allowing private citizens to pursue criminal complaints.
In Ohio, private citizens can initiate criminal complaints by filing an affidavit if they have knowledge of the facts and seek to cause an arrest or prosecution. This affidavit must be reviewed by a judge, magistrate, or prosecuting attorney to determine if the complaint should proceed. This process empowers citizens to actively participate in the justice system, especially in cases where they believe a crime has not been adequately addressed by law enforcement.
The charges come after weeks of inflammatory rhetoric that stoked xenophobic fears, leading to harassment and threats against the local Haitian community. City and state officials had previously debunked the claims, but they continued to cause harm and division, straining local resources.
The charges against Trump and Vance, according to reporting by WSYX include:
- Making False Alarms
- Telecommunications Harassment
- Aggravated Menacing
- Violating the Prohibition Against Complicity
Local prosecutors must still review the case to determine if there is enough evidence to hold the two accountable.