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A grand jury in Texas on Monday brought criminal charges against two undercover videographers who shot tapes purporting to show illegal sales of fetal tissues by Planned Parenthood.
The grand jury, based in Houston, originally convened to investigate allegations of wrongdoing agains the reproductive health clinic — but found no evidence that Planned Parenthood or its staff members had broken the law.
Instead, the jury decided to charge David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt — both affiliated with the anti-abortion Center for Medical Progress — with tampering with a government record. Daleiden has also been charged with purchase and sale of human organs.
"We were called upon to investigate allegations of criminal conduct by Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast," Devon Anderson, the Harris County district attorney, said in a statement. "As I stated at the outset of this investigation, we must go where the evidence leads us."
The Center for Medical Progress did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Planned Parenthood also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Daleiden and Merritt came to national prominence last July, when the Center for Medical Progress released a heavily-edited video that purported to show a Planned Parenthood doctor talking about the sale of fetal body parts.
Planned Parenthood immediately claimed the videos were misleading and eventually filed a lawsuit against the Center for Medical Progress. But the videos unleashed a wave of outrage. In November, there was a shooting at an abortion clinic in Colorado Springs.
If convicted of the top charge, Daleiden and Merritt could face up to 20 years behind bars. It was not immediately clear if either of them had retained an attorney.
LINK: The Real Story Behind That Video Of An Abortion Doctor Discussing Harvesting Organs
LINK: Accused Planned Parenthood Shooter Calls Himself A “Warrior For The Babies” In Court
from BuzzFeed - USNews http://ift.tt/1PxFkMh
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