Haitian lawmakers in NY criticize Molinaro for spreading racist conspiracy theory

Haitian American lawmakers in New York have not taken kindly to a false and racist conspiracy theory about Haitian immigrants that has become popular in rightwing circles. Top GOP officials, including vice presidential candidate JD Vance, have shared unfounded rumors that Haitian immigrants are eating pets. Haitian elected officials quickly condemned Vance – and New York’s own Rep. Marc Molinaro, who amplified the conspiracy theory on social media as well.

Assembly Member Michaelle Solages, the first Haitian American elected to the state Legislature, called Molinaro a “simple-minded fool” in a text to City & State. “It’s alarming that this toxic mindset has taken root in the Republican Party,” she said. “Even more infuriating is that someone so ignorant and reckless could hold a seat in New York’s Congress.” Solages also released a TikTok video criticizing Vance and urging people to vote for Democrats up and down the ballot.

Solages is not alone. Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, the chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, also released a statement taking aim at Vance. In a statement to City & State, she extended her criticism to Molinaro. “Rep. Marc Molinaro doubling down on these fake and damaging attacks is just as alarming – and is out of line with New Yorkers’ values, as is his endorsement of Trump,” Bichotte Hermelyn said. “It’s no small surprise Molinaro won the last election by only 2 points and is facing another competitive reelection against Democratic nominee Josh Riley.”

Assembly Member Clyde Vanel wouldn’t even grace the conspiracy theory Molinaro spread with a response. “These conspiracy theories are so patently absurd that they aren’t even worth commenting on,” he said in a statement.

Vance and Molinaro are among a number of high-profile Republicans who have shared false claims that Haitian immigrants in a town in Ohio are killing and eating people’s pets. On Tuesday, the White House condemned the conspiracy theory, which it called “dangerous.” Gov. Kathy Hochul, state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie have also released statements calling out Vance and the GOP for spreading the racist rumor.

On Monday evening, Molinaro shared a screenshot from a right-wing news account about the unfounded claims about Haitian immigrants and used it to attack Riley, his Democratic opponent. On social media, Riley called the unfounded rumor shared by Molinaro a “debunked racist conspiracy theory” and demanded he immediately apologize. Instead, Molinaro doubled down in a follow up post.

Reached for comment, Molinaro did not directly address the Haitian elected officials who criticized him over the conspiracy theory, instead minimizing the significance of the fake news that he shared and criticizing this outlet. “Millions of illegals and billions in tax dollars later, it took a cat tweet to get the attention about a border crisis that wouldn’t be happening without Josh Riley,” he said in a statement. “I’ll keep calling Riley out for lying in TV ads about being one of America’s top open-border activists and City & State can keep shilling for Democrats.”

But not every Republican is following in Vance and Molinaro’s footsteps. Late Tuesday evening, Rep. Mike Lawler, a fellow Hudson Valley Republican, advised his colleagues to speak cautiously. "Congressman Lawler has not seen independent verification of the wild claims that have been spread by some about the Haitian community in Springfield, Ohio,” his spokesperson Nate Soule said, noting that Lawler is proud to represent a large Haitian American constituency. “He encourages his colleagues to exercise great restraint when spreading unfounded theories and claims based off of posts on Facebook.”