The New York Times published an editorial today saying that the Harris County, Texas, indictments of the two individuals who took videos of executives at Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast in Houston “should cause politicians to back away from an anti-abortion group that will stop at nothing to attack Planned Parenthood.”
These New Yorkers were addressing Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott, and other Republican elected officials in Texas, and “state and federal officials,” and also directed their assertions to Ohio Governor John Kasich who is running for president.
Breitbart Texas reported on Tuesday that Texas leaders responded to the indictments of the pro-life activists by vowing to continue their investigation into the practices at Texas abortion facilities.
The two undercover investigators that were indicted, David Daleidon and Sandra Merritt, have alleged that Planned Parenthood illegally profited from selling tissue of aborted babies.
The undercover video involving the Planned Parenthood abortion facility in Houston was the fifth released by Daleiden and the Center for Medical Progress. As reported by Breitbart News’ Austin Ruse, it shows the director of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, Melissa Farrell, discussing the sale of whole intact aborted babies and discussing the altering of the abortion process in order to obtain whole intact babies.
In the video (which is included the Breitbart News article), Farrell talks about “specimens” ranging from 14 to 22 weeks in gestational age and says she has six “providers” who will abort babies that are older than 16 weeks. The video also hows Farrell talking about “diversification of the revenue stream.”
Moreover, when the Houston Planned Parenthood executive is complimented on her financial background and her ability to see the financial benefits in buying and selling fetal body parts, she does not correct the investigator who complimented her. She also does not deny that Planned Parenthood is in the business for financial gain.
As reported by Breitbart News after the video was released, the Houston Planned Parenthood director nods and agrees that her department “contributes so much to the bottom line” and says her research department is the largest of all other similar departments at the abortion provider combined.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott released a statement after the indictments saying, “The Health and Human Service Commission’s Inspector General and the Attorney General’s office have an ongoing investigation into Planned Parenthood’s actions. Nothing about today’s announcement in Harris County impacts the state’s ongoing investigation.” Abbott continued, “The State of Texas will continue to protect life, and I will continue to support legislation prohibiting the sale or transfer of fetal tissue.”
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton released a statement that 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.”
After the indictments this week, Lt. Governor Patrick released a statement saying, “The horrific nature of these videos demand scrutiny and investigation.”
Patrick also vowed that the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services would “continue to examine the practices of abortion providers and whether state law adequately protects the sanctity of life.” He added, “I will never be deterred from standing up to fight to protect the unborn.”
The New York Times editorial says that statements by Texas Governor Abbott as it relates to continued investigations “is a purely political campaign of intimidation and persecution meant to destroy an organization whose mission to serve women’s health care needs the governor abhors.”
As previously reported by Breitbart Texas’ Bob Price, Texas Governor Abbott’s “LIFE Initiative” calls for the following:
Laws must be changed to (1) make it a felony under Texas law to perform a partial-birth abortion; and (2) make it illegal for abortion doctors to risk a woman’s health by altering the procedure to preserve fetal body parts.
Improve and expand the availability of adoption services; and increase awareness about Texas’ already best-in-the-nation child-support enforcement program, so that young mothers considering how to deal with pregnancy know the father will be held accountable to support his family.
Funding for Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers out of taxpayer money must be eliminated completely, both at the State and local levels.
Eliminate and criminalize any sale or transaction of fetal tissue by an abortion clinic for any purpose whatsoever.
Lana Shadwick is a writer and legal analyst for Breitbart Texas. Follow her@LanaShadwick2