Republican U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins is facing calls for censure after making false claims about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio. Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford condemned Higgins’ statements, saying they incite hate and fear. Higgins posted a message that was later deleted Repeating Donald Trump’s false claimIt said Haitian immigrants were “eating their neighbors’ pets” and called on them to leave the country.
This rumor originated from a Facebook post by Erica LeeWho claimed that neighbors in Haiti had taken a neighbor’s cat. However, Lee later learned that the information was unverified and deleted the post.
This false story has become one of the most controversial statements in the world. The US presidential election is to be held on November 5.,
He was the one who also claimed to eat pets. Donald Trump during the first presidential debate with Kamala Harris Aired on ABC News on September 10th.
“These words written on the official post do not reflect credibly on the House. In fact, they are inciting hatred. They are creating fear and because of that, it is time for this body to stand with one voice and ensure that there is accountability,” Horsford said, according to news agency Reuters.
After this, the proceedings of the House were adjourned without taking immediate action on the matter.
Local officials in Springfield and the state of Ohio have repeatedly denied Higgins’ claims, but Trump has doubled down, threatening to deport members of the Haitian community, which is mostly legal residents and has about 15,000 Haitian Americans living in Springfield.
In a now-deleted post on the Twitter account known as X, Higgins said, “These Haitians are savages. Pet eating, voodoo, dirtiest country in the Western Hemisphere, cults, pageant gangsters. All these thugs better get their minds right and get out of our country before January 20th.”
According to Reuters, Higgins’ office has not commented on the controversial post or its removal.
Trump’s claims have resulted in a rise in bomb threats targeting schools and other facilities in Springfield.
Hakeem Jeffries, the top House Democrat, called Higgins’ comments “disgusting, racist and beneath the dignity of the House.”
Meanwhile, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said Higgins regretted his post.
“His co-workers called him on the floor and said it was offensive,” Johnson said. “They said they went back and they prayed about it, and they regretted it, and they pulled the post down.”