Dem House Minority Leader asks for removal of lawmaker who gave 'possessed' kids to a child molester

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas governor and House speaker wouldn't say Wednesday whether an embattled lawmaker should step down after giving away his adopted daughters to a man who later admitted sexually assaulting one of them, while the House's top Democrat said a resignation should be strongly considered.

House Minority Leader Rep. Eddie Armstrong of North Little Rock held a press conference to discuss the situation involving Rep. Justin Harris, a Republican from West Fork. Armstrong stopped short of calling for a resignation, but called Harris a distraction.

Harris has said he gave adopted daughters to Eric Cameron Francis and his wife in 2013 because he perceived the 6- and 3-year-old girls as a threat to his biological children. Francis pleaded guilty in November to sexually assaulting the older girl and two others that he met through church. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison with an additional 20 years suspended.

Armstrong called on the governor and House speaker to consider removing Harris.

"I am asking that our speaker and our governor continue to have conversation with our esteemed members to try to focus on ways to remove this distraction from our body and we can get back to the work that the people elected us here to do," Armstrong said.

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