Sen. Tom Cotton Repeats Unverified Claims About Haitians in Ohio: ‘I Don’t Know If They’re True or Not’
(AP)
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) reiterated unsubstantiated claims on Sunday that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating pets while admitting he did not know “if they’re true or not.” The comments came during an interview with Fox News host Maria Bartiromo, who criticized “the mainstream media” for not promoting unverified stories about migrants.
Bartiromo opened the conversation by accusing the media of being biased toward Vice President Kamala Harris, saying, “Kamala Harris chose ABC for an interview, and they edited down her word salad answers to make it appear quite concise. Why is it that we’re not getting the true story of the status of this country on the mainstream media?”
Cotton responded by agreeing with Bartiromo’s sentiment, asserting, “Well, the mainstream media is fully in the tank for Kamala Harris.” He then shifted focus to Springfield, Ohio, as an example of what he claimed was the media’s failure to report on issues concerning migrants.
“Look at what’s happened in the situation in Springfield, Ohio, Maria,” Cotton continued. “You had a town of about 58,000 Americans, and 20,000 Haitian migrants have flooded into that town in recent years. You’ve got Haitians who don’t know how to drive, causing accidents all around the roads of Springfield.”
Cotton also criticized local spending priorities, arguing that Springfield schools should prioritize “American citizens who wanted new uniforms for the football team” over educating migrants, despite the fact that the Haitian immigrants he referenced are legally in the country.
He went on to suggest that media outlets were attacking Springfield residents, accusing them of being “racist, bigoted, and nativist” due to their concerns about immigration. Cotton raised additional claims that Haitian migrants had been killing ducks or geese from the city pond, calling these “credible, firsthand reports that should be investigated.”
However, he admitted, “I don’t know if they’re true or not, but they shouldn’t be used to dismiss all the other very legitimate concerns that the citizens of Springfield have about the illegal immigration that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have unleashed on this country.”
Bartiromo acknowledged the rumors, calling them an “important point” and adding, “We’re looking to confirm all of that as well.” While Cotton’s remarks stirred further discussion, both the claims about pet eating and his broader allegations have not been substantiated by credible sources. The persistence of such rumors highlights ongoing political debates over immigration and media coverage.
