An Arkansas lawmaker who gave his adopted daughters to a man who later admitted to sexually assaulting one of them says he won't seek re-election in 2016.
Republican Rep. Justin Harris of West Fork says he made the decision about a month ago. Harris says he previously considered stepping back but acknowledged the decision was influenced by the widespread scrutiny following a March Arkansas Times article detailing Harris' actions.
Harris was first elected in 2010 and is serving his third term. He was never charged with criminal wrongdoing. Thirty-nine-year-old Eric Cameron Francis pleaded guilty in November to sexually assaulting the girl and two others. Harris says he gave his adopted daughters to Francis in 2013 because he perceived the 5- and 3-year-old girls as a threat to his biological children.
