Anti-abortion groups on Tuesday asked the Justice Department to open an investigation into whether Planned Parenthood has illegally sold fetal tissue obtained from abortions.
The groups, which include March for Life and Susan B. Anthony List, are echoing charges made by the Center for Medical Progress, an anti-abortion organization that secretly taped videos that purported to show Planned Parenthood staff discussing the sale of fetal tissue, which is illegal. The videos, which were released in July 2015, launched congressional hearings, a House select panel and various state investigations.
“The previous administration decided to turn a blind eye to the wrongdoing, which led to the creation of the select panel,” the groups wrote in a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and FBI Acting Director Andrew McCabe. “We request that the Justice Department continue the investigation into the practices surrounding this scandal.”
The letter, provided to reporters Wednesday, comes shortly after the Center for Medical Progress released additional, secretly taped videos that included clips of people making statements about “”pull[ing] off a leg or two, so it’s not [partial-birth abortion]” and “certainly do[ing dilation and evacuation procedures].” The video included various clips of similar statements but not the surrounding context and was pulled from YouTube after a judge’s order. In California, the attorney general has filed 15 criminal charges against the Center for Medical Progress.
Planned Parenthood has denied any wrongdoing, and 13 state investigations have cleared the group of tissue trafficking. In two states, women who go to Planned Parenthood have the option to donate tissue for medical research following an abortion. Planned Parenthood used to allow for the cost of covering the transportation and storing of fetal tissue, but decided to change its policy following various accusations.
The videos reignited a battle on Capitol Hill among lawmakers who have called for blocking federal funding from going toward Planned Parenthood. Blocking that funding is included in the House bill to repeal and replace Obamacare, called the American Health Care Act. Federal funding does not go toward most abortions but federal grants go to state programs that pay for contraception and cancer screenings, some of which go to organizations that perform abortions.
