Court Dismisses Haitian Group’s Request for Arrest Warrants Against Trump and Vance

An Ohio court has dismissed a Haitian group’s request for arrest warrants against former President Donald Trump and his vice presidential running mate, Senator JD Vance (R-OH), following comments made by Trump about Haitian migrants. The Haitian Bridge Alliance, a non-profit organization that advocates for humane immigration policies, sought legal action based on Trump’s remarks during a recent presidential debate.

In a ruling issued by a panel of judges, the court found “no probable cause” to issue arrest warrants or summons for misdemeanor charges against Trump and Vance. The judges opted instead to refer the case to the Clark County prosecutor’s office for further investigation, as outlined by Springfield city officials.

The legal action stemmed from Trump’s claims that Haitian illegals were involved in acts of violence against local pets in Springfield. During a debate on September 10, Trump stated that migrants in the area were “eating the dogs” and cats belonging to residents. His comments followed allegations from numerous Springfield residents, who claimed to have witnessed Haitian migrants taking and killing ducks in a local park. There have been numerous personal accounts and police reports from locals documenting these allegations. One resident even alleged that a friend had lost her cat, which was reportedly found being prepared for consumption at a neighbor’s home.

The Haitian Bridge Alliance’s legal filing called for charges including felony inducing panic, disrupting public services, making false alarms, and telecommunications harassment, among others. However, the court emphasized the importance of First Amendment protections in its decision, noting the constitutional safeguards surrounding speech.