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US Republican gives away daughters after 'exorcisms'

Justin Harris and his wife, Marsha. Source: Facebook

A US state legislator allegedly forced his two adopted daughters to undergo exorcisms before giving them away because he believed they were possessed by demons.

Arkansas Republican Justin Harris and his wife Marsha gave away the girls, ages 3 and 6, to a friend, six months after the adoption was finalised.

The friend, Eric Francis, then raped the eldest girl. He is currently serving a 40-year sentence for sexually assaulting the six-year-old. The girl had previously been sexually abused by her biological father.

The political couple have defended their actions, telling media they gave the girls up because they could not handle their violent and severe emotional problems.


But sources close to the family told local media outlet Arkansas Times that the Harris family thought the problems were due to the girls being possessed by the devil.

Former babysitter Chelsey Goldsborough told media the couple became convinced the girls could communicate telepathically and they kept the girls in separate locked rooms with video surveillance and alarm systems. Marsha Harris used this footage captured to show people evidence of the girl communicating with a demon. Allegedly, the couple only ever entered the older girls’ rooms to give her food and water.

"The first night I was over there, I just broke down and cried with this little girl because I just felt so bad for her," Goldsborough said.

The Harris'lawyer denied these claims in a statement.

A previous foster parent for the girls, Cheryl Hart, has expressed shock at the Harris' claims of violence.

"If they were violent (in the Harris home), they were taught violence. We had a dog, a little Bichon, that they were around all the time and there was never once any issue with her abusing an animal. ... They thrived in our home," she said.

The girls new parents say they are happy and healthy in their new home.

"We are deeply grieved over Justin Harris' accusations toward our daughters in order to self-protect; it is inexcusable," the couple said in a statement.