Governors Of South Carolina, Oklahoma Discuss 'Baby Veronica' Case

Governor Nikki Haley spoke with reporters in South Carolina Monday morning about the controversial custody case.

Monday, September 9th 2013, 4:55 pm

By: News On 6


South Carolina's governor says she will do whatever it takes to bring Veronica back to the Palmetto State.

Governor Nikki Haley spoke with reporters in South Carolina Monday morning about the controversial custody case.

Veronica will turn 4 years old this weekend. For all of her life she's been in the center of a custodial dispute.

Her biological father, Dusten Brown, has now filed a second appeal with the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

The new filing appeals a decision by a Muskogee County judge, ordering Brown to hand over Veronica to Matt and Melanie Capobianco, the girl's adoptive parents from South Carolina.

"I completely feel for all the parents involved and for everyone that's involved," Governor Haley said.

Haley said she's talked to Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin about the situation. Just last week, Governor Fallin signed extradition papers for Dusten Brown to go to South Carolina to face charges of custodial interference, saying he has not acted "in good faith."

9/5/2013 Related Story: Dusten Brown, Biological Father Of 'Baby Veronica', Surrenders In Sallisaw

On Friday, Governor Fallin denied that her relationship with Governor Haley played any role in her decision to sign those papers.

"Absolutely not. I mean, I have relationships with all governors across the United States. I'm the chairwoman of the National Governor's Association, so I work with democrats and republicans themselves," Governor Fallin said.

Governor Haley said Monday that she plans to continue to talk with Governor Fallin, as well as the Capobiancos. She said the courts have ruled that Veronica should be placed in their custody, and she'll do whatever she can to make sure Veronica is back on South Carolina soil.

"But at some point you have to take the emotion out and look at what the courts said, and that is that she should come back home to her parents in South Carolina," Haley said. "We're going to continue to work with the parents and with Governor Fallin to make sure that happens."

A gag order has been issued in the case and neither side can talk publicly.

At last report, Veronica remains in Oklahoma with the Brown family.

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