Wed Sep 18 13:36:47 UTC 2024: ## Republican Senator J.D. Vance Spreads False Rumors About Haitian Immigrants in Ohio

**Springfield, OH** – Republican Senator J.D. Vance, the former vice-presidential nominee, has been accused of spreading false and unfounded rumors about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio. These claims, which have been debunked by local officials and fact-checkers, have sparked fear and division within the community.

The rumors, which alleged that Haitian immigrants were stealing and eating pets, gained traction after being amplified by Vance on X, formerly Twitter, and subsequently by former President Donald Trump during a presidential debate.

Local officials, including Springfield City Manager Bryan Heck, have categorically denied the claims. Heck confirmed that a Vance staffer directly inquired about the truth of the rumors and was told there was no evidence to support them. Despite this, Vance continues to promote these baseless claims.

Further scrutiny has revealed that the rumors originated from a private Facebook post by a Springfield resident who later retracted them. The claims were also made by a member of a local white supremacist group, the Blood Tribe, who was removed from a city council meeting for promoting them.

The false claims have also fueled other unsubstantiated allegations about an increase in communicable diseases among Haitian immigrants. However, data from the county health department shows a decrease in infectious disease cases in 2023, with the lowest rates since 2015.

In one specific instance, Vance’s spokesperson cited a police report involving a missing cat, allegedly stolen by a Haitian immigrant. However, the cat’s owner, Anna Kilgore, later revealed that her cat had returned home safely, and she expressed remorse for the false accusations she had made.

Experts, such as PolitiFact founder Bill Adair, have expressed concern that the spread of misinformation by politicians like Vance can have harmful consequences for communities and contribute to a climate of fear and distrust.

Despite evidence contradicting his claims, Senator Vance continues to promote unfounded rumors about Haitian immigrants in Ohio, highlighting a disturbing trend of using misinformation for political gain.

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