As Americans express growing outrage over the gruesome content of recent undercover investigation videos of Planned Parenthood, 135 House Republicans have sent a formal request to United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch, demanding the Department of Justice (DOJ) immediately begin an investigation into the abortion industry giant’s practices of harvesting aborted baby body parts for sale to biomedical companies.
The request to Lynch, led by Rep. Marsha Blackburn, was made Monday and refers to the content of the videos as “deeply disturbing.”
The letter states that United States code notes, “[I]t shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly acquire, receive, or otherwise transfer any human fetal tissue for valuable consideration if the transfer affects interstate commerce,” and that “violators may be ‘imprisoned for not more than 10 years.’”
The letter’s signers observe that Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is a “tax-exempt corporation” with “a net revenue of $1.21 billion in fiscal year 2013. A large portion – 45% – of that revenue – $540.6 million was provided by U.S. taxpayers.”
The Republicans assert: “The harvesting of human fetal body parts for sale is an activity which shocks the conscience. Moreover, the tragic ethical considerations, potential for criminal violations, and involvement of taxpayer subsidies raise issues of great public importance.”
Blackburn serves as Vice Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which launched an investigation into the videos earlier in July.
The letters signers can be found here.
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