Springfield’s Republican Congressman Says Trump’s Attacks on City ‘Have Been Tearing the Community Apart’

Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) condemned the baseless attacks on Haitian migrants in his district. He represents Ohio’s 10th, which includes Springfield, where right-wing social media accounts and former President Donald Trump and his running mate have alleged migrants are eating people’s pets.

“In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs,” Trump said during his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris last week. “The people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there. And this is what’s happening in our country.”

His running mate has also lobbed the accusation while also appearing to acknowledge he’s propagating a false claim.

Vance has also falsely identified the migrants in question as “illegal,” but they are in the country legally because they have Temporary Protected Status.

Turner appeared on Thursday’s installment of The Lead with Jake Tapper on CNN and discussed the matter.

“Should Donald Trump and JD Vance stop lying about these migrants eating people’s pets?” Tapper asked while noting that schools and other buildings in Springfield have received bomb threats. “And the people that started this pet-eating rumor – both the woman who originally did the police complaint and the woman who posted it on Facebook – have expressed contrition and apologized for it. Where are you on that?”

“This certainly is incredibly tragic and completely untrue,” Turner replied. “And this should not have happened. It’s been tearing the community apart. I have not heard that they’ve continued these statements though, Jake, I do think that they have moved on. And really the community is a community that has been welcoming and is together. They’re trying to arise to the occasion of the needs of the people in the community and the Biden administration that put them there should rise to the to come to the aid of this community.”

“They need the relief,” Tapper agreed. “Should Trump and Vance correct the record? Would that help?”

“Certainly,” the lawmaker responded. “I think Senator Vance has done that.”

“No, he has not,” the host responded.

“Well, he represents the area just like I do and certainly has the ability to vet these claims by talking to the community,” Turner said.

Watch above via CNN.

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