Professor Gregory Germain spoke with Newsweek about a recent criminal complaint filed by The Haitian Bridge Alliance against Donald Trump and J.D. Vance. The Alliance claims that Haitian immigrants have received death threats after Trump said that they are stealing family pets in Springfield, OH.
“Knowledge of falsity is difficult to prove when politicians spread rumors. The Supreme Court would likely recognize that politicians have qualified immunity for lies under the First Amendment—otherwise, the bare-knuckle election process would be hampered,” says Germain. However, Germain said that highlighting Trump’s “reckless statements” may be the plaintiffs’ aim.