Sen. Mark Kelly Calls Out GOP Conspiracy Theories as ‘Really Unfortunate’
(Screengrab via CNN)
Arizona Senator Mark Kelly expressed frustration during a CNN interview on Monday, criticizing the time and resources spent debunking right-wing conspiracy theories. His comments came in response to claims by Republican lawmakers, including Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, suggesting Haitian immigrants are eating pets and ducks in Ohio.
Speaking with Erin Burnett on OutFront, Kelly addressed a viral post by Vance on X, which perpetuated the unfounded rumor. “Months ago, I raised the issue of Haitian illegal immigrants draining social services and generally causing chaos all over Springfield, Ohio. Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn’t be in this country,” Vance wrote, asking, “Where is our border czar?”
These claims echo similar statements made by Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA), who claimed, “They’re in the park. Grabbing up ducks. By the neck. And eatin’ ’em.” However, Burnett pointed out that the source of the rumors appeared to be a Facebook post citing vague, secondhand information.
A spokesperson for Springfield, Ohio, dismissed the allegations. “There have been no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured, or abused by individuals within the immigrant community,” said Karen Graves, strategic engagement manager for the city, in a statement to CNN.
Kelly lamented the focus on conspiracy theories, stating, “It’s really unfortunate that you and the team at CNN and all these other networks have to spend all this time tracing stuff down. I think it highlights that J.D. Vance [and] the Trump campaign, they don’t want to be talking about the issues that the American people care about.”
He emphasized the importance of real issues like the cost of prescription drugs, a concern targeted for reversal in the GOP’s Project 2025. Kelly criticized the GOP for ignoring these matters, saying, “They’re just focused on rumors and made-up stories.”
When asked about Donald Trump’s recent remarks on election fraud, Kelly expressed concern about the former president’s threats to reject election results. “No. I mean, his threats were not empty in 2020. I was there in the Senate chamber when he sent the mob up to Capitol Hill to change the outcome of a free and fair election. So no, I take his threats very seriously,” Kelly said.
Kelly also pointed to Project 2025, a GOP playbook that calls for replacing large parts of the federal workforce with Trump loyalists, underscoring his belief that Trump’s rhetoric could lead to serious consequences for democracy.
