JD Vance’s Staff Claimed Evidence of a Haitian Cat Theft, But ‘Miss Sassy’ Is Fine

• Senator JD Vance’s staff reportedly sent evidence of a supposed cat-napping to a news outlet.
• Vance has defended himself amid spreading rumors that Haitian migrants are consuming pets in Springfield.
• A follow-up revealed the cat in question was actually safe and unharmed.

Senator JD Vance has found himself at the center of controversy regarding unfounded rumors that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, are eating pets. The claims gained traction after Vance’s staff allegedly forwarded evidence that seemed to validate these outrageous accusations.

A report from The Wall Street Journal revealed that a spokesperson for Vance referenced a police report filed by a local resident who suspected her Haitian neighbors of stealing her cat. However, upon investigation, a reporter discovered that the cat, named Miss Sassy, was perfectly fine and resting comfortably with its owner.

The local resident, Anna Kilgore, appeared in a pro-Trump outfit and recounted how her missing cat had returned shortly after she alerted the police about its disappearance. She later expressed remorse to her neighbors, utilizing a translation app to communicate her apology.

This incident exemplifies how social media rumors have negatively impacted the community, especially following comments from former President Donald Trump during a presidential debate, where he stated that “they’re eating the pets of the people that live there.”

JD Vance, who serves Ohio in the U.S. Senate, has staunchly defended his involvement in amplifying these unfounded theories. In an interview with CNN, he claimed that highlighting the influx of Haitian migrants to Springfield through memes about pet consumption was necessary to draw media attention to the community’s struggles.

Vance asserted, “The American media totally ignored this stuff until Donald Trump and I started talking about cat memes. If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that’s what I’m going to do.”

When pressed further by CNN’s Dana Bash, Vance maintained that these claims came directly from concerns raised by his constituents. Furthermore, a spokesperson for Vance reiterated that the senator had received numerous messages detailing the adverse effects of immigration policies on Springfield, including affordable housing shortages, strained public resources, increased public safety issues, and a rise in communicable diseases.

Springfield city manager Bryan Heck recounted a conversation he had with a member of Vance’s staff on September 9, where the staff member inquired about the accuracy of the pet-eating claims. Heck firmly stated that there was no credible evidence supporting such rumors, declaring the allegations were unfounded.

Prior to this, Vance had tweeted about the subject extensively. Donald Trump later contributed to the narrative by posting humorous memes featuring armed cats on social media, further inflating the unusual situation that gained nationwide attention when the claims were discussed by Trump in front of an audience of over 67 million during the debate.

This series of events illustrates the potential dangers of spreading unfounded rumors, especially in the political arena. It raises critical questions about the ethics of using such bizarre claims to garner media attention and stoke public fears.

As the story continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Vance will navigate the backlash or if the community of Springfield can recover from the fallout of such outrageous claims.

Source: Business Insider