Arkansas attorney general investigation determined China’s government does not own Ft. Smith property

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has completed an inquiry concluding that the Chinese government does not own property in Fort Smith.

“In my investigation into the ownership of 4811 S. Zero Street in Fort Smith, I determined that there is no violation of Act 636 of 2023,” Griffin said in a Tuesday afternoon statement. “4811 S. Zero Street, LLC is not owned by, controlled by, or associated with any ‘prohibited foreign-party-controlled-business,’”

The investigation was triggered by the concerns of Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward about a property on Zero Street in Fort Smith having ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Ward sent a letter to Griffin’s office in late July expressing that concern.

Ward’s letter stated that part of the concern was the property’s proximity to Ebbing National Guard base in Fort Smith.

Act 636 was passed by the legislature in 2023. It requires the agriculture department to gather information about possible foreign property ownership.

“I thank the Secretary of Agriculture for alerting me to this issue and to the owners of 4811 S. Zero Street, LLC for their cooperation in the investigation,” Griffin said. “I also praise the diligence of the attorneys and agents in my office who handled this case.”

Act 636 was used in October 2023 by the attorney general to require the China National Chemical Company to divest its land holdings in Craighead County for the Northrop King Seed Company.