(ProsperNews.net) – An Ohio court has dismissed a request from the Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) to arrest Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance, over allegations that they made inflammatory comments accusing Haitian nationals in Springfield, Ohio, of eating locals’ pets and wildlife. The claims were brought to court by the HBA, which argued that the comments led to harm against the Haitian community, including bomb threats and racially charged incidents.
A panel of judges from the Clark County municipal court found no probable cause to issue warrants or summonses for misdemeanor charges against Trump and Vance. The judges pointed out the strong constitutional protections for political speech, especially in the context of a heated presidential campaign. They emphasized that determining whether there was sufficient evidence to support criminal charges should be left to prosecutors rather than the court at this stage.
In their ruling, the judges acknowledged the contentious nature of the immigration debate and the upcoming presidential election, stating that they could not automatically assume that the affidavits submitted by the HBA were made in good faith. As a result, they referred the case to prosecutors for further investigation.
Judge Stephen Schumaker, in a concurring opinion, stressed the difficulty of proving the falsity of Trump and Vance’s statements. He highlighted the difference between the lack of verifiable reports supporting a statement and the legal requirement to prove that a statement is false. Schumaker concluded that without clear evidence, there was no basis to proceed with criminal charges against the two politicians.
The HBA had invoked an Ohio law (R.C. 2935.09) that allows private citizens to file affidavits for criminal charges. The organization, which has received funding from George Soros’ Open Society Foundations, claimed that Trump and Vance’s comments were baseless and malicious, inflicting harm on the Haitian community. HBA Executive Director Guerline Jozef blamed the politicians for inciting fear and hostility in Springfield.
Meanwhile, Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump’s campaign, defended the former president, asserting that his comments were intended to highlight the failures of the current immigration system under Vice President Kamala Harris. Leavitt reiterated Trump’s commitment to securing the U.S. border and addressing issues related to illegal immigration.
As the case moves forward, the court has referred the matter to prosecutors to determine if any further action is warranted, based on the evidence presented.
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