Some Republicans, who want to take a tough stance on immigration, claim that Springfield is being overrun with immigrants. To make their point, they are even spreading malicious lies about Haitians. Vance, who is Donald Trump’s running mate, tweeted on Monday: “Reports now show that people have had their pets kidnapped and eaten by people who should not be in this country.” He repeated the claim on Tuesday, but only admitted that “It is of course possible that all these rumours turn out to be false.”

Still, DeWine refused to condemn such rhetoric. When asked if he would “condemn other Ohio Republicans who make these claims,” the governor said he was only there to establish “the essential facts,” and referred to the city manager’s statement on “one of these specific matters.”

“Look,” he added, “I came here today because I felt it was important to lay out for the people, not just of Springfield, but of Ohio and the country, the essential facts. The essential facts that I have gone through to the best of my knowledge are the essential facts.”