A Houston grand jury originally tasked with investigating alleged wrongdoing by Planned Parenthood in connection with a viral video purporting to depict officials "selling baby parts" has instead indicted two videographers behind the clip.
David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt were involved in publishing a number of videos allegedly "proving" Planned Parenthood sells "baby body parts." The videos were doctored, and Planned Parenthood does not sell baby parts, but the allegation prompted Texas Governor Greg Abbott to demand an investigation into the group.
Both were indicted on charges of tampering with a governmental record, a second-degree felony that could lead to a 20-year prison sentence. Daleiden, the director for the Center for Medical Progress, was indicted on an additional misdemeanor count related to the sale and purchase of human organs. (This is likely because, in attempting to show Planned Parenthood discussing the sale of organs, he was asking to buy organs.)
"We were called upon to investigate allegations of criminal conduct by Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast… As I stated at the outset of this investigation, we must go where the evidence leads us. All the evidence uncovered in the course of this investigation was presented to the grand jury. I respect their decision on this difficult case," Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson said Monday.
This turn of events is making a lot of people very happy.
Congrats to Planned Parenthood, and the criminal justice system at large.
Danielle Wiener-Bronner is a news reporter.