Vance defends pet-eating story, a claim Democrats call ‘dangerous’

WASHINGTON – The Republican vice-presidential nominee defended on Sept 15 his claim that immigrants are eating people’s pet animals in an Ohio town, a claim multiple officials say is “dangerous” and unfounded.

Donald Trump’s running mate J.D. Vance had made the surprising claim earlier in September – saying Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating people’s pet cats and dogs. Vance is a US senator who represents Ohio.

Trump amplified the claim during

his Sept 9 debate with his presidential rival, Democrat Kamala Harris

, provoking widespread mockery at home and abroad – but also prompting a series of threats that forced some Springfield schools and hospitals to close.

“My constituents are telling me first-hand that they’re seeing these things,” an unapologetic Mr Vance said on CNN.

He denied any responsibility for the recent spate of threats against Springfield, blaming them on “psychopaths” and “losers”.

Springfield’s mayor, a local sheriff and the state’s Republican governor have said they have no evidence to back up Mr Vance’s claims.

“These discussions about Haitians eating dogs and cats and other things need to stop,” Governor Mike DeWine said on ABC.

“What we know is that the Haitians who are in Springfield are legal. They came to Springfield to work (and)... they are very good workers.”

Thousands of Haitians have settled in Springfield in recent years, most of them under a federal programme granting them temporary protected status.

Governor Josh Shapiro of the neighbouring state of Pennsylvania, a Democrat once touted as a possible Harris running mate, on Sept 15 accused Mr Vance of recklessly fanning the flames of rumour.

“When they go out and they lie about this stuff, they put their fellow Americans at risk,” he told CNN interviewer Dana Bash. “J.D. Vance should be ashamed of himself... This is dangerous stuff.”

Mr Vance denied his remarks had any connection to the threats against Springfield.

“The violence is disgusting,” he said. “We condemn it.”

But he repeatedly blamed the problems in places like Springfield on the border policies of the Biden-Harris administration.

Trump, like Mr Vance, has doubled down on his attacks on migrants.

Campaigning on Sept 13 in California, Trump vowed there would be “large deportations” from Springfield if elected. He has promised to deport millions of undocumented migrants nationwide.

Ms Harris, meantime, appeared on Sept 13 in Mr Shapiro’s state of Pennsylvania, perhaps the most crucial of the swing states expected to decide the November election. AFP