Gov. Ed Rendell defends bringing 12 Haitians to western, Pa.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Ed Rendell’s press secretary says bringing 12 children from earthquake-ravaged Haiti to Pennsylvania last month was the right thing to do, whether or not they were orphans in the process of being adopted.

Press secretary Gary Tuma defended the decision today in the wake of reports that 12 of the 53 children from the BRESMA orphanage weren’t slated for adoption by U.S. families.

Tuma tells The Associated Press that Rendell didn’t know that when he personally accompanied a relief flight to Haiti to pick up all 53 children on Jan. 18.

The American Red Cross is attempting to determine whether any of the 12 children have living parents who want them back. Tuma says even if that turns out to be true, the children have been well cared for by a Pittsburgh-area charity in the interim.