U.S. Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) was challenged by CNN’s Jake Tapper on Thursday over the false claim that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, have been stealing and eating residents’ pets—claims that continue to circulate despite efforts to debunk them.
Tapper directly asked Turner about the role of 2024 GOP vice presidential nominee JD Vance in promoting the rumor. “Should Trump and Vance stop lying about these migrants eating people’s pets?” Tapper pressed.
The host pointed out the damaging effects the falsehood has had on the Springfield community. “Because as you know, in Springfield, since this lie took root, schools have shut down. Students have been absent,” Tapper continued. “There have been all types of closures. Bomb threats, shooting threats. And the people who started this pet-eating rumor – both the woman who made the police complaint and the woman who posted it on Facebook — have expressed contrition and apologized for it.”
Turner, acknowledging the harm caused by the rumor, said, “This is certainly a tragic thing. Completely untrue. This should not have happened. It’s tearing the community apart. I have not heard that they’ve continued these statements, Jake. I do think they have moved on.”
However, Tapper wasn’t convinced that the matter was settled. He pushed Turner on whether Trump and Vance should take responsibility and correct the record publicly. “Should Trump and Vance correct the record? Would that help?” Tapper asked.
Turner responded by claiming that Vance had already addressed the issue. “I think Senator Vance has done that,” Turner stated. But Tapper immediately pushed back, stating, “He certainly has not,” emphasizing that the falsehood continues to spread and that neither Trump nor Vance have fully retracted their claims.
Turner, who represents the same area as Vance, concluded by noting that Vance has the power to verify the truth by engaging directly with the community, saying, “He represents the area just like I do, and he certainly has the ability to vet these claims by talking to the community.”
Despite Turner’s comments, the false claims continue to have a serious impact on Springfield, contributing to community tensions and fears—fueled by misinformation from public figures who have yet to fully correct the narrative.