WE BEGIN WITH BREAKING NEWS — WE’RE FOLLOWING MULTIPLE REPORTS THE U-S IS RETALIATING FOR THE DEATHS OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS IN JORDAN. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SAYS THE U-S DOESN’T SEEK CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST — OR ANYWHERE ELSE — BUT THAT AMERICA WILL RESPOND IF AMERICANS ARE HARMED. WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT CHRISTOPHER SALAS HAS MORE. (ON CAM) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IS REPORTING U- S ASSAULTS ON áDOZENSá OF SITES IN IRAQ AND SYRIA.. THAT ARE SUSPECTED TO BE USED BY IRANIAN- BACKED MILITIAS. (FS) THE MANNED AND UNMANNED AIR STRIKES ARE REPORTEDLY TARGETING COMMAND AND CONTROL HEADQUARTERS.. AMMUNITION STORAGE FACITILITES.. AND OTHER LOCATIONS USED BY THE FORCES. (VO) THE NEWS IS BREAKING JUST HOURS AFTER PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND THE FIRST LADY ATTENDED THE “DIGNIFIED” TRANSFER OF THREE SERVICE MEMBERS. SGT. WILLIAM RIVERS – SGT. KENNEDY SANDERS – AND SGT. BREONNA MOFFETT… THE PRESIDENT PROMISED THIS WEEK THE U-S WOULD RETALIATE FOR THE DEATHS OF THOSE SOLDIERS WHO WERE KILLED BY A DRONE STRIKE BY IRANIAN BACKED MILITAS AT “TOWER 22” – A U-S BASE IN JORDAN. (ON CAM) WE’RE TOLD MILITIA GROUPS HAVE TARGETED U-S FACILITIES MORE THAN 150 TIMES SINCE OCTOBER.. OFFICIALS SAY PREVIOUS U-S EFFORTS TO DETER THOSE MILITIAS HAVEN’T WORKED.. THIS IS JUST THE LATEST IN AN ONGOING BACK AND FORTH CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST- STEMMING FROM THE WAR IN GAZA.. IN WASHINGTON, I’M CHRISTOPHER SALAS.. WE’RE FOLLOWING MORE BREAKING NEWS – ARKANSAS’ ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS SENT A LETTER TO THE “INTERIM CORRECTIONS SECRETARY” TELLING HIM NOT TO ACCEPT THE JOB. A-G TIM GRIFFIN SENT THE LETTER YESTERDAY TO EDDIE JOE WILLIAMS. THE BOARD OF CORRECTIONS VOTED YESTERDAY TO APPOINT WILLIAMS AS INTERIM AFTER FIRING JOE PROFIRI LAST MONTH. THIS IS VIDEO OF WILLIAMS WHEN HE SPOKE TO 40/29 IN 2022. HE’S A FORMER G-O- P STATE SENATOR. GRIFFIN WROTE IN THE LETTER THAT THE GOVERNOR SOLELY HAS AUTHORITY TO APPOINT A SECRETARY. AND — THAT IF WILLIAMS ACCEPTS THE JOB — HE COULD FACE A LAWSUIT AND NOT GET PAID. WILLIAMS WAS GIVEN A FRIDAY 3PM DEADLINE TO RESPOND. AT LAST CHECK — THE AG’S OFFICE SAYS THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN A RESPONS
Eddie Joe Williams resigns department of corrections days after appointment as interim secretary
The man who was appointed interim secretary of the Arkansas Department of Corrections five days ago has resigned.”As we have previously discussed, if I was unable to accomplish my goals while working with the Department of Corrections, I would gladly step aside,” Eddie Joe Williams wrote in a letter to the Arkansas Board of Corrections, the entity that appointed him. Follow this link to read the letter.The board did not comment when 40/29 News asked a spokesperson for a statement.Timeline Of ControversyThe Arkansas Board of Corrections fired the previous Secretary of the Department of Corrections, Joe Profiri, in Jan. 2024. The move came after months of dispute between the board and Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders over prison beds.A Pulaski County judge sided with the board on Jan. 22.The board met on Feb. 1 and appointed Williams interim secretary.Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin then wrote a letter to Williams, asking him to decline the appointment.”I write to inform you that the Board has no such authority to appoint anyone as interim Secretary,” Tim Griffin wrote.Griffin wrote in his letter that only the governor has the power to nominate a secretary.
The man who was appointed interim secretary of the Arkansas Department of Corrections five days ago has resigned.
“As we have previously discussed, if I was unable to accomplish my goals while working with the Department of Corrections, I would gladly step aside,” Eddie Joe Williams wrote in a letter to the Arkansas Board of Corrections, the entity that appointed him. Follow this link to read the letter.
The board did not comment when 40/29 News asked a spokesperson for a statement.
Timeline Of Controversy
The Arkansas Board of Corrections fired the previous Secretary of the Department of Corrections, Joe Profiri, in Jan. 2024. The move came after months of dispute between the board and Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders over prison beds.
A Pulaski County judge sided with the board on Jan. 22.
The board met on Feb. 1 and appointed Williams interim secretary.
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin then wrote a letter to Williams, asking him to decline the appointment.
“I write to inform you that the Board has no such authority to appoint anyone as interim Secretary,” Tim Griffin wrote.
Griffin wrote in his letter that only the governor has the power to nominate a secretary.
