Pro-life activist David Daleiden had hoped a Grand Jury in Texas would indict Planned Parenthood executives for dealing in aborted baby parts. Instead he and a colleague have been indicted by a Grand Jury in Houston for actions they took in exposing the Planned Parenthood baby-parts business.
Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson investigated Planned Parenthood and gave them a clean bill of health. They then indicted Daleiden, in a complete surprise to Daleiden supporters.
This turn of affairs happened today in Harris County Texas where Daleiden, founder and president of the Center for Medical Progress, and his colleague Sandra Merritt were indicted for felony tampering with a government record. The specifics of that charge and official record were not revealed. He was also indicted for a misdemeanor charge of buying fetal tissue.
A warrant was issued for Daleiden on Monday evening.
Daleiden insisted tonight that his group uses “the same undercover techniques that investigative journalists have used for decades in exercising our First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and of the press, and follows all applicable laws.”
Daleiden has been sued by the National Abortion Federation and by Planned Parenthood Federation of American who insist Daleiden broke laws in creating his non-profit Center for Medical Progress.
The abortion-groups claim that he lied on government papers when setting up the tax-free group. They charge that he lied to government officials in getting phony identification using phony names. They also charge that he lied on government documents in setting up the dummy corporation he used to insinuate himself into Planned Parenthood offices to secretly film Planned Parenthood personnel negotiate the sale of human baby organs, something that is a felony violation punishable by years in prison and enormous fines.
Lawyers close to Daleiden say the tampering with government documents is the use of phony identification similar to what an underage college student would use to get into a bar.
The multiple videos Daleiden created and released one after the other this summer caused a global sensation and created investigations into Planned Parenthood in a number of states and in the U.S. Congress. Several states also voted to defund Planned Parenthood which gets roughly half a billion dollars a year in government largesse.
Daleiden’s full statement on the Center for Medical Progress’ website is:
The Center for Medical Progress uses the same undercover techniques that investigative journalists have used for decades in exercising our First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and of the press, and follows all applicable laws. We respect the processes of the Harris County District Attorney, and note that buying fetal tissue requires a seller as well. Planned Parenthood still cannot deny the admissions from their leadership about fetal organ sales captured on video for all the world to see.
Follow Austin Ruse on Twitter @austinruse
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.