The leader of a nonprofit serving the Haitian community has initiated legal action against former President Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, citing disturbances and threats faced by Springfield, Ohio, since Trump made false claims about legal immigrants during a presidential debate.
The Haitian Bridge Alliance took this step following a lack of action from the local prosecutor, according to their attorney, Subodh Chandra from Chandra Law Firm in Cleveland. While it is uncommon for private citizens to file such charges in Ohio, it can occur. State law mandates a hearing before the affidavit can progress, but none had been set as of Tuesday afternoon.
The charges against Trump and Vance, who is a U.S. senator from Ohio, include disrupting public services, making false alarms, telecommunications harassment, aggravated menacing, and complicity. The filing requests that the Clark County Municipal Court confirm probable cause and issue arrest warrants.
Chandra emphasized that Trump and Vance’s actions demonstrate intent to violate the law, especially given the statements from the governor and mayor denying the claims.
Steven Cheung, communications director for the Trump-Vance campaign, defended Trump, arguing he is addressing the failures of the immigration system overseen by Vice President Kamala Harris, which has led to a surge of illegal immigrants in communities like Springfield.
Springfield has seen the arrival of 15,000 to 20,000 Haitian immigrants over recent years, many of whom have been granted Temporary Protected Status. However, over 30 bomb threats targeting local government buildings and schools have caused closures and increased security measures. Local Haitian residents have expressed concerns for their safety amidst rising hostility, and Mayor Rob Rue has received death threats.
Chandra pointed out that if anyone other than Trump and Vance had caused such chaos—resulting in bomb threats and threats against the mayor—they would likely have been arrested by now, asserting that they are not above the law.
He also noted that the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling allowing former presidents immunity from criminal prosecution does not apply here since Trump is a private citizen now, and Vance was not acting as a senator when he spread false rumors about Springfield’s Haitian community.
