A Miller County Circuit Judge issued a gag order at the beginning of closed custody proceedings Monday concerning 23 children whose parents have ties to Tony Alamo Christian Ministries.

Circuit Judge Joe Griffin said he granted the order at the request of lawyers representing the Arkansas Department of Human Services.

The order was prompted after tapes of interviews with six girls removed from ministry properties in Fouke, Ark., were placed on the Internet, Griffin said. The footage was filmed at the Texarkana Children’s Advocacy Center the day after their September re...

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