Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Grand Jury Indicts 2 Activists Behind Planned Parenthood Videos
The Wall Street Journal: Jury Indicts Two Antiabortion Activists Linked To Planned Parenthood Videos
A Texas grand jury looking into alleged misconduct by Planned Parenthood Federation of America cleared the group and instead indicted two antiabortion activists who made covert videos of the organization. ... The move represented a surprise twist in the case, which was spurred by undercover videos of Planned Parenthood made in April by Mr. Daleiden, founder of the antiabortion group the Center for Medical Progress, and Ms. Merritt. Abortion opponents said the videos showed Planned Parenthood illegally profiting from fetal tissue and changing abortion procedures to obtain better specimens. The health group said it broke no laws, that the videos were edited to be misleading and that the clinics legally received money to cover the cost of procuring, storing and transporting tissue. (Frosch and Armour, 1/26)
The New York Times: 2 Abortion Foes Behind Planned Parenthood Videos Are Indicted
A grand jury here that was investigating accusations of misconduct against Planned Parenthood has instead indicted two abortion opponents who made undercover videos of the organization. ... The record-tampering charges accused Mr. Daleiden and Ms. Merritt of making and presenting fake California driver’s licenses, with the intent to defraud, for their April meeting at Planned Parenthood in Houston. (Fernandez, 1/25)
The Washington Post: Creator Of Anti-Planned Parenthood Videos Faces Felony Charge
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott [says] that the inspector general of the state’s Health and Human Services Commission and the Texas attorney general’s office [will] continue to investigate Planned Parenthood’s actions. “Nothing about today’s announcement in Harris County impacts the state’s ongoing investigation,” Abbott 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.” (Paquette, 1/25)
Politico: Texas Grand Jury Indicts Activists Behind Planned Parenthood Videos
A grand jury in Texas on Monday indicted two anti-abortion activists behind the undercover Planned Parenthood videos -- and cleared Planned Parenthood of any wrongdoing. ... [A] two month investigation cleared Planned Parenthood of any misconduct and turned to the makers of the videos. "We were called upon to investigate allegations of criminal conduct by Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast," said Devon Anderson, Harris County’s district attorney. "As I stated at the outset of this investigation, we must go where the evidence leads us.” (McCaskill and Haberkorn, 1/25)
The Texas Tribune: Grand Jury Indicts Abortion Foes Behind Undercover Videos
A Harris County grand jury on Monday indicted the videographers behind undercover recordings of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Houston and cleared the women's health provider of any wrongdoing. ... The two people who visited the Houston facility — including a center where abortions are performed — identified themselves as executives with Biomax Procurement Services, a shell company created by Daleiden's Center for Medical Progress. The undercover video, released in August, shows the two videographers and Planned Parenthood staff discussing the administrative costs of harvesting fetal organs at various stages of gestation. (Ura, 1/25)
The Austin American-Statesman: Anti-Abortion Activists Indicted In Planned Parenthood Video Case
A Harris County grand jury, investigating undercover videos depicting Planned Parenthood’s handling of fetal tissue, cleared the organization of wrongdoing Monday and instead indicted two abortion opponents involved in shooting the video in a Houston clinic last April. (Lindell, 1/25)
Elsewhere, in Arkansas, a judge grants Planned Parenthood class action status on its challenge to the state's ban on Medicaid funding —
Reuters: U.S. Judge OKs Class Action In Arkansas Planned Parenthood Lawsuit
A U.S. judge granted Planned Parenthood class action status on Monday for its challenge to Arkansas' ban on Medicaid funding to the health care provider over videos secretly recorded by an anti-abortion group. The approval by U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker strengthens Planned Parenthood's bid to reverse the state's decision in August to halt funding after the videos surfaced in July, claiming to show the nonprofit group's officials negotiating the sale of fetal body parts for profit. (Barnes, 1/25)
And, in Louisiana, the new governor has yet to announce how he'll proceed on a lawsuit appeal over Planned Parenthood funding —
The Associated Press: New Governor Hasn't Made Decisions On Jindal-Era Lawsuits
Former Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal became embroiled in three high-profile lawsuits involving issues targeted by conservatives during his failed bid for the Republican presidential nomination: Planned Parenthood, Common Core and same-sex marriage. His Democratic successor, Gov. John Bel Edwards, however, appears to be in no rush to wade into the controversies. ... Jindal's health department cut off Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood clinics in the state after videos were released by an anti-abortion group claiming Planned Parenthood illegally sells fetal tissue. The organization denied the allegation and said the videos were misleading. (1/25)
