California Files Felony Charges against Journalists Who Exposed Planned Parenthood

Undercover journalists David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt have been charged with 15 felonies for releasing videos they took of Planned Parenthood officials allegedly negotiating the sale of fetal tissue.

In the videos released by Daleiden and Merritt, through their organization, The Center for Medical Progress, Daleiden poses as “Robert Sarkis,” from the fictional organization Biomax Procurement Services. In this role, Daleiden secretly films conversations he has with Planned Parenthood officials which seem to reveal that Planned Parenthood sells fetal tissue and body parts for profit.

Planned Parenthood, of course, denies these charges and claims the videos were edited to support anti-abortion claims.

Daleiden and Merritt were previously indicted in the state of Texas for their undercover journalistic activities and for allegedly using fake IDs. Those charges, however, were dropped.

Now, Daleiden and Merritt face new charges from the state of California. They have been charged with 15 felonies for filming 14 people without consent and for criminally conspiring to invade privacy.

In an email to The Associated Press, Daleiden called the new charges “bogus” and stated, “The public knows the real criminals are Planned Parenthood and their business partners.”

Last year, California Department of Justice officials allegedly raided Daleiden’s home, seizing the undercover videos as well as some of his personal belongings.

After that incident, the case has seemed to die down, until the felony charges were filed in the San Francisco Court on Tuesday.

The undercover videos have not only called Planned Parenthood’s business ethics into question, they have placed a greater amount of political pressure on the nation’s number one abortion provider.

Photo courtesy: Wikipedia

Publication date: March 29, 2017