AR - Rep. Harris rehomed his adopted daughter to man who sexually abused her

[believe09]

Reminds me of a well-known Aerosmith song.

:bow: exactly.

(Moraq I will now have that song ringing in my ears and in my head for the rest of the night.)

 

[daisy7]

FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) – In a two-part “5NEWS This Morning” interview that aired Sunday (March 15), 5NEWS Managing Editor Larry Henry spoke with Rep. Justin Harris, R-West Fork, via Skype about the controversy steming from the re-homing of his two adopted daughters with a Bella Vista family. One girl was sexually abused after being re-homed, leading to a 2014 sexual-assault conviction. Despite calls for him to resign, Harris told 5NEWS he’s not leaving office. He also addressed accusations his babysitter made that he performed exorcisms on the two adopted girls, and the reasons why he tried to give up the girls.

http://5newsonline.com/2015/03/15/5news-speaks-to-rep-harris-about-his-re-homing-scandal/

Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk

 

[shadowraiths]

FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) – In a two-part “5NEWS This Morning” interview that aired Sunday (March 15), 5NEWS Managing Editor Larry Henry spoke with Rep. Justin Harris, R-West Fork, via Skype about the controversy steming from the re-homing of his two adopted daughters with a Bella Vista family. One girl was sexually abused after being re-homed, leading to a 2014 sexual-assault conviction. Despite calls for him to resign, Harris told 5NEWS he’s not leaving office. He also addressed accusations his babysitter made that he performed exorcisms on the two adopted girls, and the reasons why he tried to give up the girls.

http://5newsonline.com/2015/03/15/5news-speaks-to-rep-harris-about-his-re-homing-scandal/

This was an unfortunate interview.

For starters, had they done their homework, they would know that the Harrises church is a Southern Baptist church, not a Catholic church, and as such, does not proscribe to the concept of "Exorcisms." Therefore, JH could unequivocally assert that they did not engage an exorcist for his adoptive daughters, or the children at his preschool. Secondly, had they done their homework, they would know that the concept of "demonic possession" is still very much alive and well within the Southern Baptist belief system. (PDF, see page 26)

Moreover, while JH stated that he and his wife follows Nancy Thomas's book, "When Love Is Not Enough, a Parent’s Guide to Reactive Attachment Disorder," the interviewer did not push back on the fact that Thomas is considered a dangerous quack by those in mainstream psychology. Her lack of credentials along with latching onto what has sadly become a RAD cottage industry, and not a great deal different from the ADHD cottage industry, of old, is one of the negatives of the many "self-help" books that proliferate bookshelves today.

Btw and fwiw, I wholly support the first amendment. What I do not support is that this man is using tax payer dollars to indoctrinate (and imho, traumatize) preschoolers by telling them they're possessed by demons. I do not support that he and his wife seem so obsessed with the "demonic possession" that they not only isolated these girls and performed demonic cleansings but gave up within a few months, and handed them off to a pedophile, who quite likely has a long list of as of yet, undiscovered victims. And finally, I do not support that this man uses his authority to get what he wants, and then, brags about it. (link, clear your cookies for arkansasonline.com, so you can read the article)

That said, as I noted earlier, I do not see this guy stepping down, or, for that matter, being unseated. In fact, I will not be the least bit surprised if he is re-elected.

 

[daisy7]

ITA, shadow! It was more like a script than an actual interview, IMO.

"We're not Catholic so we don't perform exorcism -- nothing's wrong with that. But, we do believe in the power of prayer." Isn't an exorcism basically praying out the demon?

Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk

 

[believe09]

I am grateful that Harris continues to talk. And totally not surprised.

 

[daisy7]

LITTLE ROCK, AR — The reporter who broke the story involving State Rep. Justin Harris’ adoption scandal joined “Capitol View” on KARK Sunday morning.

Benji Hardy of the Arkansas Times says the publication learned of the link between Harris and convicted child rapist Eric Cameron Francis through court documents related to Francis’ criminal case. From there, he discovered Harris and his wife had “rehomed” girls they’d adopted through DHS (Legislation has been proposed to make such a practice illegal).

After Hardy’s first article was published in early March, he says multiple other sources with knowledge of the Harrises’ situation contacted him. That led to a second article, and Hardy says there is more to the story yet to be published.

http://m.arkansasmatters.com/display/11866/story/cea0f9a10a95807773205653effe8bb0

I'm glad these reporters are working together to expose this story!

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[Margo/Mom]

ITA, shadow! It was more like a script than an actual interview, IMO.

"We're not Catholic so we don't perform exorcism -- nothing's wrong with that. But, we do believe in the power of prayer." Isn't an exorcism basically praying out the demon?

Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk

Agreed. We are really just talking terminology.

However, the Catholics are actually a bit more careful in the application--actually training the people who can perform such rituals.

Protestants, including Southern Baptist, are much looser. They may pray to drive out the demons of alcoholism, homosexuality, rebelliousness, etc. Rites may include anointing, laying on of hands, speaking in tongues, etc. Further they may be performed during regular worship services--on occasion calling people (including children) forward based on the determination of various authorities (minister, elders, parents) that the person is infested with demons. I can only imagine that this would be a terrifying experience for such very young children as the adoptees, and those in the pre-school.

 

[Margo/Mom]

Agreed. We are really just talking terminology.

However, the Catholics are actually a bit more careful in the application--actually training the people who can perform such rituals.

Protestants, including Southern Baptist, are much looser. They may pray to drive out the demons of alcoholism, homosexuality, rebelliousness, etc. Rites may include anointing, laying on of hands, speaking in tongues, etc. Further they may be performed during regular worship services--on occasion calling people (including children) forward based on the determination of various authorities (minister, elders, parents) that the person is infested with demons. I can only imagine that this would be a terrifying experience for such very young children as the adoptees, and those in the pre-school.

I should have said SOME protestants.

 

[wfgodot]

Doesn't matter the "degree of training," which denomination can perform what, etc.: once the term "exorcism" entered the picture, this one ratcheted up to a whole 'nother degree of crazy.

As it stood even before that, somebody needs to be in jail -- and not only the one person who already is.

Farcical, but much, much worse -- this is tragic; this was preventable.

 

[Margo/Mom]

Doesn't matter the "degree of training," which denomination can perform what, etc.: once the term "exorcism" entered the picture, this one ratcheted up to a whole 'nother degree of crazy.

As it stood even before that, somebody needs to be in jail -- and not only the one person who already is.

Farcical, but much, much worse -- this is tragic; this was preventable.

I don't wholly disagree. However, I think that dangers are heightened when anyone with a Bible and a bottle of Wesson oil can dive into the fray. The Catholics have at least managed to steer clear of the "pray away the gay" trend, even if they cannot go the whole route of recognizing gays as normal human beings entitled to form families.

 

[Margo/Mom]

Doesn't matter the "degree of training," which denomination can perform what, etc.: once the term "exorcism" entered the picture, this one ratcheted up to a whole 'nother degree of crazy.

As it stood even before that, somebody needs to be in jail -- and not only the one person who already is.

Farcical, but much, much worse -- this is tragic; this was preventable.

If nothing else, the man's pre-school needs to be investigated vis a vis the religious connection and the obvious conflict of interest with regard to receiving funds that he voted on.

 

[shadowraiths]

Justin Harris Resigns as Vice Chair of House Committee

LITTLE ROCK -- According to the Arkansas House of Representatives, Representative Justin Harris has asked to step down from his position as Vice Chair of the Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative & Military Affairs house committee, effective immediately.

He will also step down from the Joint Performance Review Committee.​

link

 

[Margo/Mom]

Justin Harris Resigns as Vice Chair of House Committee

LITTLE ROCK -- According to the Arkansas House of Representatives, Representative Justin Harris has asked to step down from his position as Vice Chair of the Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative & Military Affairs house committee, effective immediately.

He will also step down from the Joint Performance Review Committee.​

link

Thank you--it's a beginning.

 

[believe09]

Justin Harris Resigns as Vice Chair of House Committee

LITTLE ROCK -- According to the Arkansas House of Representatives, Representative Justin Harris has asked to step down from his position as Vice Chair of the Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative & Military Affairs house committee, effective immediately.

He will also step down from the Joint Performance Review Committee.​

link

He was given the option of stepping down or being removed I suspect.

 

[shadowraiths]

Rep. Justin Harris was eligible for over $28,000 in tax benefits for adopting two girls who were later rehomed

It appears the Harrises did not retain the foster/adoption subsidies from the state of Arkansas, as explained below. However, the Harris family may have received another, more significant financial benefit as a result of adopting the girls: A one-time, nonrefundable federal adoption credit of $12,970 per child in 2013. The couple might have also claimed a federal Child Tax Credit of up to $1,000 per child, which means the Harrises may have saved some $27,970 in federal income taxes as a result of the adoption. Additionally, Justin and Marsha Harris' overall taxable income may have been lowered by claiming the girls as dependents. In 2013, a dependency exemption was $3,900 per dependent.​

link

 

[K_Z]

Justin Harris Resigns as Vice Chair of House Committee

LITTLE ROCK -- According to the Arkansas House of Representatives, Representative Justin Harris has asked to step down from his position as Vice Chair of the Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative & Military Affairs house committee, effective immediately.

He will also step down from the Joint Performance Review Committee.​

link

Ok, that's a start. There are 2 bills in the AR House that have been numbered, jacketed, and referred to this committee, related to re homing adopted kids. If JH is prevented from committee discussion, or doesn't show up to the hearing for those bills, that would be another signal that he is in the process of informally being forced out, IMO.

Committee chairs have a great deal of informal power. They can decide to hear, or not hear bills, who can speak on behalf of a bill, or against a bill, how long they may speak, etc. They control if a vote is taken to move a bill along, or kill the bill. They often use their informal power when there is a need to influence something to go in a certain direction, IMO.

This latest announcement has a committee chair's fingerprints on it, IMO. Hopefully this isn't the end of the shunning by JH's party.

 

[believe09]

Rep. Justin Harris was eligible for over $28,000 in tax benefits for adopting two girls who were later rehomed

It appears the Harrises did not retain the foster/adoption subsidies from the state of Arkansas, as explained below. However, the Harris family may have received another, more significant financial benefit as a result of adopting the girls: A one-time, nonrefundable federal adoption credit of $12,970 per child in 2013. The couple might have also claimed a federal Child Tax Credit of up to $1,000 per child, which means the Harrises may have saved some $27,970 in federal income taxes as a result of the adoption. Additionally, Justin and Marsha Harris' overall taxable income may have been lowered by claiming the girls as dependents. In 2013, a dependency exemption was $3,900 per dependent.​

link

Thank you very much for posting all of this. So will we see his tax returns featured some where in the next few segments I wonder?

 

[Margo/Mom]

Rep. Justin Harris was eligible for over $28,000 in tax benefits for adopting two girls who were later rehomed

It appears the Harrises did not retains the foster/adoption subsidies from the state of Arkansas, as explained below. However, the Harris family may have received another, more significant financial benefit as a result of adopting the girls: A one-time, nonrefundable federal adoption credit of $12,970 per child in 2013. The couple might have also claimed a federal Child Tax Credit of up to $1,000 per child, which means the Harrises may have saved some $27,970 in federal income taxes as a result of the adoption. Additionally, Justin and Marsha Harris' overall taxable income may have been lowered by claiming the girls as dependents. In 2013, a dependency exemption was $3,900 per dependent.​

link

It has been some years since my adoption, but the way it was then was that the federal tax credit was against actual adoption expenses--such as home study, travel, etc. In my case it amounted to far less than $1,000. That included mileage for several visits across state, an overnight hotel stay and a few reataurant meals.

 

[tlcya]

Glad to see all of this being looked at from all angles.

Excellent reporting thus far. They are on it. And even when they don't ask exactly the questions I would, they continue to get answers. Answers from which we can glean some new avenue.

 

[shadowraiths]

JH letter of resignation from Vice Chairman position of Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs, and Joint Performance Review committees.