Angelina And Billy Bob's Adoption Questioned

Posted Thursday, March 14, 2002 at 10:55 AM Central

by Heather Koehler

Too excited to keep it quiet, Jon Voight leaked earlier this week he was a new grandfather after daughter Angelina Jolie and husband Billy Bob Thornton adopted a Cambodian baby boy. It was an announcement the couple were wanting to keep quiet until all of the paperwork was completed. Instead, they are issuing statements to clarify the details.

Technically, the 7 1/2 month old boy is not allowed in the United States. Maddox may have a passport but does not have a visa. The U.S. government stopped Cabodian adoptions in December due to the popularity of illegal adoption trade in the country. Poverished mothers were being cohersed into selling their babies to wealthy American families.

A thorough background check showed Angelina and Billy Bob's adoption was completely legitimate and nothing near a "trafficked baby" case. They filed their adoption papers in November, so the adoption should still take place, but the two have to go through all of the channels, just like everyone else.

Until Maddox is allowed into the United States, he will be with his parents in Africa and Asia where mommy is shooting a movie. They are also looking for a house in Cambodia so they can raise Maddox in both his homeland and his new home.