Republican US lawmaker faces censure over false claims about Haitian immigrants

Republican US Representative Clay Higgins is facing calls for censure after making false claims about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio. Democratic Representative Steven Horsford condemned Higgins' statements as inciting hate and fear. Higgins had posted, and later deleted, a message repeating a false claim by Donald Trump, stating that Haitian immigrants were "eating their neighbours' pets" and calling for them to leave the country.

The rumour originated from a Facebook post by Erika Lee, who claimed that Haitian neighbours had taken a neighbour's cat. However, Lee later discovered that the information was unverified and deleted the post.

This false narrative has escalated into one of the most controversial statements in the US presidential election which is set for November 5.

The claim about eating pets was also made by Donald Trump during the first presidential debate with Kamala Harris on September 10, which aired on ABC News.

"These words on an official post do not reflect credibly on the House. In fact, they are inciting hate. They are inciting fear, and because of that, it is time for this body to stand with one voice and to ensure that there is accountability," said Horsford, reported news agency Reuters.

Following this, the House went into recess without taking immediate action on the matter.

Local officials in Springfield and the state of Ohio have repeatedly debunked Higgins' claims, but Trump has doubled down, threatening to deport members of the Haitian community, which consists mostly of legal residents, with around 15,000 Haitian Americans living in Springfield.

In his since-deleted post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Higgins stated, "These Haitians are wild. Eating pets, vudu, nastiest country in the western hemisphere, cults, slapstick gangsters. All these thugs better get their mind right and their ass out of our country before January 20th."

Higgins’ office has not commented on the controversial post or its deletion, according to Reuters.

The fallout from Trump's claims has led to a surge of bomb threats targeting schools and other facilities in Springfield.

Top House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries labelled Higgins's comments as "vile, racist, and beneath the dignity" of the House.

Meanwhile, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson mentioned that Higgins regretted his post.

"He was approached on the floor by colleagues who said that was offensive," Johnson reported. "He said he went to the back and he prayed about it, and he regretted it, and he pulled the post down."