'I'm still waiting': Vance demands apology over the bomb threats disrupting Springfield
The bomb threats disrupting life in the Ohio city of Springfield, where former President Donald Trump and his running mate have repeatedly and falsely claimed immigrants eat pets, has spurred a demand for an apology from an unlikely source: Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH).
Vance (R-OH) took to X Tuesday afternoon to complain the mainstream media had unfairly linked 33 bomb threats — which spurred two elementary school evacuations and also mentioned local university students by name — to his made-up story about Haitian immigrants.
"I'm still waiting on a correction and apology from the left wing journalists," Vance wrote. "They lied about these bomb threats to silence us."
Vance did not explain how he believes the media lied, but echoed a claim he made to Dana Bash on CNN Sunday, when he argued he was justified in creating stories if it focused journalists' attention on Biden Administration's policies.
"They don't want to talk about Kamala Harris's border policies making housing unaffordable for American citizens," Vance wrote.
Vance shared messages from his communications director William Martin and MSNBC political analyst Kyle Cheney — both of whom offered different takes on Vance's ties to the mounting bomb threats in Springfield.
Cheney lambasted Vance over the cancellation of Springfield's CultureFest over fears spurred by the threats.
"Springfield, OH officials are canceling an annual celebration of diversity, arts, and culture due to safety concerns, after numerous threats were received by city, county, and school facilities," Cheney wrote. "Those threats came after Trump and Vance targeted Springfield with racist lies."
Martin in turn lambasted Cheney.
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"Fake News MSDNC hack claims that bomb threats happened because of Trump and Vance," Martin wrote. "OH Gov Mike DeWine said every bomb threat in Springfield has been a hoax and many came from overseas."
Martin is correct that DeWine called the threats hoaxes and sourced them to one foreign nation he did not name, but it's worth noting DeWine has also condemned the commentary about Haitian immigrants.
"This is a piece of garbage that was simply not true," DeWine said. "Discussions about Haitians eating cats and dogs needs to stop."
Meanwhile, Springfield residents told a Raw Story reporter last week they too would like an apology — from Vance.
“I think it's very, very disgusting to have a running president and vice to even single out Springfield without them educating themselves," Denise Williams, president of Springfield's NAACP branch told Raw Story.
"I want J.D. Vance to apologize to our community because it was a disgusting remark, and it has fueled the fire that's already blazing here...I hope the word gets back to him that we really need him to apologize to the city.”