Marshallese president applauds arrest in adoptions case Close KSLNewsRadio.com Home Contests Podcasts Traffic Weather Heart of Utah KSL Movie Show KSL Greenhouse News Local and Regional News National News Health News Entertainment News Jeff Caplan's Minute of News Be Ready Utah KSL Sports Station Information KSL NewsRadio app On-air schedule Text Alerts Listen on a smart speaker KSL Newsletters Meet our team Contact Us Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube TikTok Tour Information KSL in the Community Utah Gives Back Your Life Your Health Teacher Tribute Wall Speaking on Business Healthy Mind Matters Quarters for Christmas 103.5 The Arrow FM100.3 Discover KSL.com Live Sports Podcasts Weather Traffic TV Menu AP Marshallese president applauds arrest in adoptions case Oct 17, 2019, 2:55 PM FILE - In this Sept. 23, 2019, file photo, Marshall Islands' President Hilda Heine addresses a summit at the United Nations General Assembly. The president of the Republic of the Marshall Islands is applauding U.S. authorities for arresting an Arizona elected official accused of running an illegal adoption scheme involving pregnant Marshallese women. President Heine issued a statement Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, saying people like Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen have been inducing Marshallese women for too long. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow, File) (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow, File) Share BY JONATHAN J. COOPER, ASSOCIATED PRESS News Director PHOENIX (AP) — The president of the Republic of the Marshall Islands on Thursday applauded U.S. authorities for arresting an Arizona elected official accused of running an illegal adoption scheme involving pregnant Marshallese women. President Hilda Heine spoke out a week after Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen was arrested on charges in three states that include human smuggling, sale of a child and fraud. “Marshallese women have been induced by people like Petersen and his ilk for too long,” Heine said in a statement released by the Marshallese government. Prosecutors say Petersen and his associates recruited Marshallese women who were paid up to $10,000 to come to the United States, where they were crammed into houses to wait to give birth and provide their babies for adoption. Petersen’s lawyer has denied wrongdoing on the part of his client. Investigators from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Utah attorney general’s office visited the Marshall Islands this week as part of the investigation, and authorities on the islands helped with the inquiry. Heine said she believes other illegal adoption rings are operating. Petersen faces federal charges in Arkansas and state charges in Arizona and Utah. Authorities in Salt Lake City say there are nearly 30 pending adoptions in the three states that were being handled by Petersen’s Arizona-based law firm. Petersen attorney Matt Long has said Petersen has deep ties and strong affection for the Marshallese community, and that the adoption work was legal. He criticized the Marshallese government for creating an environment where people seek any opportunity to flee the islands. “They’re not being induced, they’re not being exploited,” Long said in response to Heine’s statement. “They’re looking for any opportunity to flee the country that has abandoned them.” Share Today’s Top Stories Two-vehicle crash involving a semi closes Highway 138 on Friday New fire breaks out on Y Mountain in Provo Semifinalists for the new Utah flag design unveiled Motorhome crash in Box Elder County claims the life of one person Home improvement tip: Increase the value of your home by weatherproofing doors BYU student and youngest-ever Survivor contestant says he’s confident he will win BYU premieres documentary ‘The Black 14: Healing Hearts and Feeding Souls’ Former U.S. Attorney for Utah talks about what FBI can take off your cellphone “Mini-bottles” could return to Utah state liquor stores Community theater cancels shows after concerns over casting AP The Associated Press At least 9 killed as Iran protests over woman’s death spread The scope of Iran's ongoing unrest, the worst in several years, still remains unclear as protesters in more than a dozen cities. 1 day ago MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press House passes election law overhaul in response to Jan. 6 The bill, which is similar to bipartisan legislation moving through the Senate, would overhaul an arcane 1800s-era statute known as the Electoral Count Act 2 days ago Associated Press NY attorney general sues Donald Trump and his company Attorney General Letitia James' lawsuit is the culmination of the Democrat's three-year civil investigation of Trump and the Trump Organization. 3 days ago RODRIQUE NGOWI, GISELA SALOMON and CLAUDIA TORRENS Associated Press Surprise is key part of migrant travel from Florida, Texas EDGARTOWN, Mass. 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