Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) has reaffirmed his claims that immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, have been eating pets. In an interview with CNN, Vance defended his previous statements and social media posts on the matter, stating that they were based on firsthand accounts from his constituents.
Vance criticized the American media for ignoring the issue until he and former President Donald Trump started discussing it. He admitted to creating stories to draw attention to the suffering of the American people, even if they were not entirely accurate.
The surge of up to 20,000 Haitian immigrants in Springfield over the past few years has sparked controversy. Vance’s pet-eating claims have been met with denials from Springfield Mayor Rob Rue and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. Both officials have stated that the allegations are false and have cast a negative light on the city.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, however, mentioned a recorded police call from a witness who claimed to have seen immigrants capturing geese for food in Springfield. Yost also noted that citizens testified to incidents of Haitian migrants killing geese during city council meetings.
Governor DeWine, who runs a charity in Haiti, defended the Haitians in Springfield, stating that many of them are in the United States legally and came to work for local companies. He acknowledged the challenges and problems associated with a sudden increase in population but emphasized the positive impact the Haitians have had on the local economy.
The Trump campaign has attempted to highlight a police call made last month about alleged geese-hunting in Springfield, although few details were provided. The claims made during town hall meetings by local residents, such as Anthony Harris, have lacked evidence or specific details.
Several bomb threats have also been reported in Springfield, targeting government buildings, hospitals, and schools. The veracity of these threats is currently unknown.
The Epoch Times has been unable to independently verify the claims made in the police call and is awaiting comment from the sheriff’s department.