Subodh Chandra Leads Court Fight Against Trump-Vance’s ‘Dog-Eating’ Stories

India-West Staff Reporter

SPRINGFIELD, OH ­ Subodh Chandra, an experienced civil rights attorney, is leading the legal efforts on behalf of the San Diego based Haitian Bridge Alliance to hold Donald Trump and J.D. Vance accountable for their inflammatory and false accusations about Haitian immigrants. The criminal charges, filed in the Clark County Municipal Court, stem from Trump and Vance’s repeated claims that legal Haitian immigrants here were harming pets, accusations that have been thoroughly debunked by both city and state officials.

Chandra’s involvement comes as the Haitian Bridge Alliance, a nonprofit organization that advocates for humane immigration policies seeks justice. The organization’s executive director, Guerline Jozef, filed the charges, alleging that Trump and Vance incited panic and threats through their baseless fearmongering. The charges include disrupting public service, making false alarms, and telecommunications harassment, among others.

Chandra’s Background

 Chandra’s role as the lead attorney in this case highlights his deep legal experience and commitment to defending civil rights. Born to Indian immigrant parents, Chandra’s upbringing instilled a strong sense of justice and advocacy. His parents’ journey, much like the stories of many immigrants, shaped his understanding of the struggles faced by marginalized communities.

Chandra’s legal career began with stellar academic credentials, graduating from Stanford University with honors and later earning his law degree from Yale Law School, where he was the executive editor of the Yale Law & Policy Review. After Yale, Chandra embarked on a career that saw him taking on high-profile cases, including prosecuting healthcare fraud and corruption as a federal prosecutor. Notably, Chandra earned recognition for his successful work on cases involving police misconduct, including representing the family of Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old boy killed by Cleveland police—a key case in the national dialogue on police brutality.

Though Chandra is now based in Ohio, he has roots in Los Angeles, where he worked for large law firms and defended high-profile clients. His experiences in both California and Ohio give him a wide-ranging perspective on legal matters involving civil rights, public safety, and immigrant communities. In Los Angeles, Chandra defended media companies in major defamation cases and represented cities like Los Angeles and Beverly Hills against allegations of police misconduct. These experiences cemented his ability to handle complex, high-stakes litigation.

The Legal Strategy

In this case, Chandra argues that Trump and Vance have used their platform to intentionally spread falsehoods, inciting public fear and causing widespread disruption in Springfield, Ohio. As a result of their repeated claims, the town has been plagued by bomb threats, evacuations, and public service interruptions. Jozef’s criminal complaint highlights that this pattern of misinformation violates Ohio state laws, including those against making false alarms and aggravated menacing.

Chandra emphasizes that the legal standard of “probable cause” required to move forward with these charges is relatively low. The court is obligated to hold a hearing to assess the validity of the affidavit filed by Jozef. Given the serious disruption caused by the false alarms and bomb threats, Chandra argues that Trump and Vance should be held accountable under the law.

“Trump and Vance’s behavior goes far beyond the bounds of free speech,” Chandra said, invoking the famous legal principle that one cannot falsely shout “fire” in a crowded theater without facing consequences. “What they’ve done is spread dangerous lies that have caused real harm to an already vulnerable community. The rule of law must apply to everyone—even to those who think they are above it.”

As the court reviews the charges, the outcome could set a precedent for how public figures are held accountable for using their platforms to incite fear and cause harm. With Chandra leading the charge, the Haitian Bridge Alliance hopes to see justice served, not just for the Haitian community in Springfield, but for all immigrant communities who continue to face threats from those in power.