Ohio rep refuses to say Trump and Vance 'should stop lying' about pet-eating migrants

US Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) said Thursday that his fellow Ohio lawmaker — 2024 GOP vice presidential nominee JD Vance — has stopped spreading the lie that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio are stealing and eating residents' cats and dogs. He has not.

"Should Trump and Vance stop lying about these migrants eating people's pets?" CNN's Jake Tapper asked.

"Because as you know, in Springfield, since this lie took root, schools have shut down. Students have been absent," he continued. There have been all types of closures. Bomb threats, shooting threats. And the people who started this pet-eating rumor – both the woman who did the police complaint, and the woman who posted it on Facebook — have expressed contrition and apologized for it."

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The GOP congressman replied, "This is certainly a tragic thing. Completely untrue. This should not have happened. It’s tearing the community apart. I have not heard that they've continued these statements, Jake. I do think they have moved on."

Tapper then asked, "Should Trump and Vance correct the record? Would that help?"

"I think Senator Vance has done that," Turner replied.

"He certainly has not," Tapper emphasized.

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"He represents the area just like I do, and he certainly has the ability to vet these claims by talking to the community," the Republican lawmaker concluded.

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