In Houston, Texas, a grand jury that was investigating claims of illegal behavior on the part of Planned Parenthood have instead indicted the two abortion adversaries behind the undercover Planned Parenthood videos. The charges laid against the vigilante filmmakers are tampering with a governmental record, which is a felony, and charges related to purchasing human organs. David R. Daleiden, the director of the anti-abortion group Center for Medical Progress, posed as a biotechnology representative interested in purchasing fetal tissue in a sting operation that was, of course, secretly filmed. A Center for Medical Progress employee, Sandra S. Merritt, was indicted with a felony charge for tampering with a governmental record. That charge accuses Merrit of making fake California driver’s licenses for their meeting with Planned Parenthood officials.
Abortion opponents claimed the videos that were released in July of 2015 showed Planned Parenthood engaging in the illegal sale of fetal parts. The organization denied the accusations, and formal investigations by the states and congress found them innocent of any wrongdoing. Planned Parenthood issued an apology for the casual tone that one of its officials used while discussing a possible transfer of fetal tissue to the fake biotech company. But, they insisted the fees being discussed were to cover costs and were legal.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott told The New York Times that the inspector general of the state’s Health and Human Services Commission and the Texas attorney general’s office will continue to investigate Planned Parenthood’s actions. “Nothing about today’s announcement in Harris County impacts the state’s ongoing investigation. The State of Texas will continue to protect life, and I will continue to support legislation prohibiting the sale or transfer of fetal tissue,” Abbott said in a statement. The state attorney general, Ken Paxton, said: “The fact remains that the videos exposed the horrific nature of abortion and the shameful disregard for human life of the abortion industry. The state’s investigation of Planned Parenthood is ongoing.”
