LITTLE ROCK, AR — An Arkansas lawmaker at the center of a controversy surrounding two children he adopted from foster care spoke for the first time on TV Thursday.
“I can just tell you that the truth is going to come out,” said Justin Harris, R-West Fork, as he walked from a committee hearing to a meeting. “I think when it does we’ll be vindicated.”
The Arkansas Times reported Tuesday that after about a year of caring for two children Harris and his wife adopted from DHS, the children were sent to live with the family of a man who worked at a Washington County preschool owned by Harris.
The man was Eric Francis. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison last November, in part, for raping a six-year-old girl Harris put in his care.
“I have a wife and three boys at home; I’ve gotten death threats,” Harris said Thursday at the Capitol.
Harris eventually stopped briefly but said little other than that he was heading to a meeting.
“I will talk to you guys after session,” Harris said.
Harris never showed up for an interview Thursday afternoon.
The process of giving away an adopted child to a new family is called “rehoming.” DHS says it’s legal in Arkansas unless it rises to the level of abandonment.
“It depends on what the parents knew at the time the child was sent to live with the other family,” said DHS spokeswoman Amy Webb.
Harris reportedly told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that parents in Francis’ family where he sent the adopted children had passed background checks, and there were no signs of the potential for abuse.
Harris is planning a press conference for Friday afternoon.
State representative Greg Leding has filed a bill to make rehoming a felony. Leding says he met with the governor Thursday and has his support.
The governor’s office issued the below statement to the Arkansas Times late Thursday:
“I have previously instructed the Department of Human Services to review the practice of ‘rehoming’ and recommend changes with the best interest of the child foremost in mind. In addition, I have met with Rep. Greg Leding and Rep. David Meeks to discuss their legislation and additional ideas to reform our adoption procedures so that our children have the greatest opportunity for a safe, loving and secure home.
“There are legitimate concerns brought forth by the recent story in the media. And the public policy issues pertaining to it should be addressed as soon as possible. Our children deserve nothing less than our full attention and utmost care.”
A statement released on behalf of State Rep. Justin Harris reads as following:
“Rep. and Ms Harris have suffered a sever injustice. Due to threats of possible abandonment charges, they were unable to reach out to DHS for help with children who presented a serious risk of harm to other children in their home. Upon the advice of both a psychiatrist and a pediatrician, they were forced to move the children to the home of trusted friends, who had a lot of experience with children with reactice attachment disorder. Rep. and Mrs. Harris are devestated about the outcome of that decision, but faced with no good option they did the best that they knew how.”
“I can just tell you that the truth is going to come out,” said Justin Harris, R-West Fork, as he walked from a committee hearing to a meeting. “I think when it does we’ll be vindicated.”
The Arkansas Times reported Tuesday that after about a year of caring for two children Harris and his wife adopted from DHS, the children were sent to live with the family of a man who worked at a Washington County preschool owned by Harris.
The man was Eric Francis. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison last November, in part, for raping a six-year-old girl Harris put in his care.
“I have a wife and three boys at home; I’ve gotten death threats,” Harris said Thursday at the Capitol.
Harris eventually stopped briefly but said little other than that he was heading to a meeting.
“I will talk to you guys after session,” Harris said.
Harris never showed up for an interview Thursday afternoon.
The process of giving away an adopted child to a new family is called “rehoming.” DHS says it’s legal in Arkansas unless it rises to the level of abandonment.
“It depends on what the parents knew at the time the child was sent to live with the other family,” said DHS spokeswoman Amy Webb.
Harris reportedly told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that parents in Francis’ family where he sent the adopted children had passed background checks, and there were no signs of the potential for abuse.
Harris is planning a press conference for Friday afternoon.
State representative Greg Leding has filed a bill to make rehoming a felony. Leding says he met with the governor Thursday and has his support.
The governor’s office issued the below statement to the Arkansas Times late Thursday:
“I have previously instructed the Department of Human Services to review the practice of ‘rehoming’ and recommend changes with the best interest of the child foremost in mind. In addition, I have met with Rep. Greg Leding and Rep. David Meeks to discuss their legislation and additional ideas to reform our adoption procedures so that our children have the greatest opportunity for a safe, loving and secure home.
“There are legitimate concerns brought forth by the recent story in the media. And the public policy issues pertaining to it should be addressed as soon as possible. Our children deserve nothing less than our full attention and utmost care.”
A statement released on behalf of State Rep. Justin Harris reads as following:
“Rep. and Ms Harris have suffered a sever injustice. Due to threats of possible abandonment charges, they were unable to reach out to DHS for help with children who presented a serious risk of harm to other children in their home. Upon the advice of both a psychiatrist and a pediatrician, they were forced to move the children to the home of trusted friends, who had a lot of experience with children with reactice attachment disorder. Rep. and Mrs. Harris are devestated about the outcome of that decision, but faced with no good option they did the best that they knew how.”
