Rep. Clay Higgins, a Republican from Louisiana, faced backlash after calling Haiti the “nastiest country in the western hemisphere” in a now-deleted social media post. The post came in response to a Haitian nonprofit filing citizen criminal charges against former President Donald Trump and Sen. JD Vance for baseless claims about Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio. Higgins’ rant referenced debunked claims of Haitians eating pets and practicing voodoo, urging them to leave the U.S. by January 20th. The attorney representing the nonprofit called the post a clear threat that should be addressed by an Ethics Committee investigation.
Higgins has a history of controversial statements, including advocating for killing suspected Islamic terrorists and physically removing an activist from a news conference. Despite facing criticism from Rep. Steve Horsford, Majority Leader Steve Scalise defended Higgins, and a motion to censure him was found to be out of order. Most Haitians in Springfield have legal status through the Department of Homeland Security, but Trump and Vance have vowed to end their protection and deport them if elected.
Higgins, a strong ally of Trump, has a reputation for using inflammatory rhetoric. He has also been known for making threats against terrorists and forcibly removing individuals from events. This latest incident has sparked calls for accountability, but it remains to be seen how Republican leadership will respond.
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