Grand Jury Indicts 2 Planned Parenthood Opponents

A Grand Jury in Houston, Texas that was in charge of investigating claims against Planned Parenthood has indicted two abortion opponents instead. The jury arrived at this decision on Monday.

According to the Harris County District Attorney, Devon Anderson, David Daleiden, the leader of the anti-abortion group Center for Medical Progress, will be facing one felony charge for tampering with a government record. He is also facing a misdemeanor count for trying to buy human tissue. Daleiden's employee, Sandra Merritt, faces the same charge for tampering.

The charge for tampering accuses both members of acquiring fake California driver's licenses with the intention of defrauding others.

Daleiden had gone undercover as a representative with a biotechnology company at Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast. He secretly recorded his interactions with Planned Parenthood officials as he tried to buy fetal tissue for research. The videos, which were released starting in July, led to many accusations against Planned Parenthood.

One of the key issues with the videos was the tone and candid language that some of the Planned Parenthood officials used. The organization has apologized for discussing fetal tissue in this manner but maintained the fact that they did not break any laws at all. The grand jury agreed with Planned Parenthood.

"We were called upon to investigate allegations of criminal conduct by Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast," Anderson said in a statement. "As I stated at the outset of this investigation, we must go where the evidence leads us. All the evidence uncovered in the course of this investigation was presented to the grand jury. I respect their decision on this difficult case."

Deleiden released this statement, reported by the New York Times:

"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."

The vice president of communications for Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Eric Ferrero, said reported by the Washington Post, "These anti-abortion extremists spent three years creating a fake company, creating fake identities, lying, and breaking the law. When they couldn't find any improper or illegal activity, they made it up."

Monday's jury findings will not affect the Texas attorney general's office's investigation into Planned Parenthood.

"Nothing about today's announcement in Harris County impacts the state's ongoing investigation," Governor Gred Abbott (R) said in a statement. "The State of Texas will continue to protect life, and I will continue to support legislation prohibiting the sale or transfer of fetal tissue."

The investigation is being carried out with the help of the inspector general of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.