The sting operation resulted in multiple Republican-led state and federal investigations, none of which have found evidence to support Daleiden’s claims that Planned Parenthood is profiting from the sale of fetal tissue or “baby parts”.
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“We figured from the start that they went in with the intention of prosecuting the pro-lifers instead of Planned Parenthood”, said Melchor, who described the videos as a “great educational instrument”. Sandra Merritt, an anti-choice activist and Daleiden’s associate, turned herself in to authorities on Wednesday. “He is innocent. These charges are legally and factually baseless”.
Mr. Daleiden surrendered and posted a $3,000 bond in Harris County District Court after being indicted January 25 on a felony charge of tampering with a government ID – in this case, making a fake driver’s license – and a misdemeanor charge of attempting to buy fetal tissue.
“We also must ask why, as citizen journalists, Daleiden and Merritt are not protected by the same laws that have shielded countless of their fellow reporters down through the years”, Daly writes.
The pro-life movement was stunned when the Harris County grand jury returned indictments against Mr. Daleiden and Ms. Merritt while filing no charges against Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, which was initially the target of the district attorney’s investigation.
After the trial, Daleiden was seen briefly thanking his supporters who camped out for a rally outside the Houston courthouse.
But Terry Yates, one of Daleiden’s attorneys, said Daleiden isn’t interested in accepting the plea offer and is prepared to head to trial if he can’t quash the indictment. He faces up to 20 years in prison and $10,000 in fines for the felony charge.
Androphy said while Daleiden wants a trial, prosecutors probably want to settle the case as quickly as possible. But the grand jury had cleared Planned Parenthood of misconduct.
Planned Parenthood spokesman Eric Ferrero said Thursday that “the wheels of justice have only begun to roll”, and that the group doesn’t “expect this to be the last time these extremists are booked and fingerprinted”.
Attorneys say the pair plan to plead not guilty. The Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives is examining these issues and this new video, once again, raises more questions about the medical procedures and business practices used by entities involved in fetal tissue procurement.
He also said Planned Parenthood hopes other law enforcement agencies pursue charges as well.
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Said Staver, “We will ultimately push this through discovery, and we’re going to find more information about what was going on in the district attorney’s office and the grand jury, which we believe should never have indicted in the first place”.
