The leader of a nonprofit representing the Haitian community of Springfield, Ohio, filed criminal charges Tuesday against former President Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, over the chaos and threats experienced by the city since Trump first spread false claims about legal immigrants there during a presidential debate.

The Haitian Bridge Alliance invoked its private-citizen right to file the charges in the wake of inaction by the local prosecutor, said their attorney, Subodh Chandra of the Cleveland-based Chandra Law Firm.

“Their persistence and relentlessness, even in the face of the governor and the mayor saying this is false, that shows intent,” Chandra said. “It’s knowing, willful flouting of criminal law.”

    • grue@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      It’s a sad indictment of the American legal system that people advocate for, and are excited at the prospect of, mere civil penalties for things that are actual crimes, not just torts. Why do we have so much trouble applying real consequences with teeth to people that actually deserve them?

      These are criminal charges. The correct course of action isn’t to sue them; it’s to lock them the fuck up!

      • mycelium underground@lemmy.world
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        3 days ago

        Will the best option would be a criminal case and a civil case. Best part of a civil case is that it does not have to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, just more likely than not.

        Take their money AND lock them up.

        Edit: corrected autocorrect

    • Cadeillac@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      Sue them for everything they’ve got! Wait, a billion each would probably be better

    • orcrist@lemm.ee
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      3 days ago

      These are criminal charges, which if successful (unlikely) would have more severe consequences for Trump and his couch-loving companion.

    • GreenKnight23@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      my only hope that the last flicker of consciousness in his brain as he dies will be an eternity of torment that he rightfully deserves.

      our subconscious mind is our personal worst enemy and I truly hope his is just as monstrous and evil as his conscious mind; and when he has nobody else to torment, his mind will turn on him for a trillion lifetimes.

      • Hobbes@startrek.website
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        3 days ago

        unfortunately, I don’t think that he actually believes in Christianity, because if he did, he would believe in hell and he would know that that’s where he’s going. Even though it’s all fairytale.

    • jaybone@lemmy.world
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      Yeah I hate to be a bummer hear (or maybe just a realist) but here’s just one more criminal and/or civil case in an endless list for which Trump will never see any kind of justice. Zzzz so tiring.

  • orcrist@lemm.ee
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    3 days ago

    It will be difficult to get this past the judge, because the First Amendment generally protects speech, even lies. Specifically inciting violence is not protected, but is this speech vague enough? My gut suggests it is, but we’ll see what the courts think.

    If the courts OK the charges, there’s a passing chance that a jury could convict, because the effects are so clear and shocking. It’s easy to make a solid case.

    • finitebanjo@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      I think it has been clear that Trump and Vance want people to take up arms and attack the Haitians.

      He said this during a debate on national television:

      You see what’s happening with towns throughout the United States. You look at Springfield, Ohio. You look at Aurora in Colorado. They are taking over the towns. They’re taking over buildings. They’re going in violently. These are the people that she and Biden let into our country. And they’re destroying our country. They’re dangerous. They’re at the highest level of criminality. And we have to get them out. We have to get them out fast. I created one of the greatest economies in the history of our country. I’ll do it again and even better.

  • PriorityMotif@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    In case anyone is unaware some places have private prosecution.

    Ohio:

    A private citizen having knowledge of the facts who seeks to cause an arrest or prosecution under this section may file an affidavit charging the offense committed with a reviewing official for the purpose of review to determine if a complaint should be filed by the prosecuting attorney or attorney charged by law with the prosecution of offenses in the court or before the magistrate.