JD Vance called out by cops for spreading baseless rumors about Haitian illegal immigrants harming pets

SPRINGFIELD, OHIO: GOP vice presidential candidate JD Vance and other Republican lawmakers recently claimed that the arrival of immigrants from Haiti has led to pets being "abducted and eaten" in Springfield. However, the allegation was dismissed by law enforcement officials as abjectly false on Monday, September 9, reported NBC News.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Vance wrote, "Months ago, I raised the issue of Haitian illegal immigrants draining social services and generally causing chaos all over Springfield, Ohio. Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn't be in this country. Where is our border czar?"

How did the pet abduction rumor go viral?

The rumor has been amplified by the likes of X CEO Elon Musk, Reps Marjorie Taylor Greene and Mike Collins, Senator Ted Cruz, and other GOP members. AI photographs of the GOP nominee and former president Donald Trump with mostly cats and ducks soon went viral over social media.

In its report, The New Republic stated of the inherently racist false propaganda, "Right-wingers seemed to have conflated a report from Canton, Ohio, of a woman who was arrested for allegedly killing and eating a cat, with complaints from residents in Springfield, more than 170 miles away from Canton. The woman is a U.S. citizen, and there is no indication she is a Haitian immigrant."

Statement from the Springfield Police Division

“In response to recent rumors alleging criminal activity by the immigrant population in our city, we wish to clarify that there have been no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured, or abused by individuals within the immigrant community,” a statement that law enforcement officials of Springfield shared with NBC News read.

“Additionally, there have been no verified instances of immigrants engaging in illegal activities such as squatting or littering in front of residents’ homes. Furthermore, no reports have been made regarding members of the immigrant community deliberately disrupting traffic,” they noted.

JD Vance slammed online for fearmongering and pushing fake news for his agenda

Social media users brutally slammed JD Vance after he falsely claimed that illegal immigrants from Haiti are abducting and eating people's pets. People on the internet accused the Ohio senator of "fearmongering" by spreading fake news.

"This has been debunked but of course, you're spreading fake news. You're desperate and sad," wrote one social media user.

"Fearmongering is all you guys have. Find a safe space," stated another.

"This has satanic panic written all over it. MAGAs are nuts," wrote one person.

"You, sir, are the idiot all other idiots bow down to," added another.

"Don’t you have any sense of shame? You’re pathetic," asked one individual.

"Late one night, Vance looks over at his couch and asks: 'How can I win back the cat ladies?'" another further asked.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.