Evidence Supports Planned Parenthood Grand Jury Allegations

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Contact: Troy Newman, President, 316-841-1700; Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Policy Advisor, 316-516-3034; both with Operation Rescue, info@operationrescue.org

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Oct. 8 /Christian Newswire/ -- Operation Rescue released today information to support the seven allegations made on a citizen petition effort to convene a grand jury to investigate alleged illegalities at a Planned Parenthood in Overland Park, Kansas. The Petition is being circulated by the L.I.F.E. Coalition, which includes Concerned Women For America, Operation Rescue, and Women Influencing the Nation.

"We are not just grasping at straws, here," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "In some cases, this evidence has been in the public forum for years. Other evidence only recently surfaced. There is ample reason to believe, based on public information alone, that Planned Parenthood may be breaking the law."

The seven accusations include:

Performing, allowing to be performed, or colluding to perform illegal late term abortions

Planned Parenthood has a policy of considering that all abortions under 24 weeks are not viable. Kansas law (K.S.A. 65-6703) indicates that viability should be considered at 22 weeks.

Failing to report suspected child abuse, and suspected child sexual abuse

In 2002, an organization called Life Dynamics Inc. conducted phone calls of every Planned Parenthood and National Abortion Federation abortion clinic in the United States. Every abortion clinic in Kansas was called, including the Planned Parenthood office in Overland Park, which is subject of the grand jury petition. During the calls a woman represented herself to be a 13-year old girl seeking an abortion to conceal her sexual relationship with a 22-year old boyfriend. That relationship is considered statutory rape in all 50 states. These phone calls reveal of clear pattern of clinic workers coaching girl how to avoid mandatory child sex abuse reporting laws. Click here to listen to the tapes and read the report.

Failing to follow the standard of care in providing medical advice or failure to conduct medical procedures as required by Kansas statute

During a recent legislative hearing, Michelle Armesto came forward and told of her abortion at a Wichita clinic done by a Planned Parenthood abortionist from California. Armesto indicated that her 24-week old baby was falsely diagnosed as "non-viable" in order to evade compliance with K.S.A. 65-6703. She received no follow up care, which is a violation of standard of care. Planned Parenthood abortionists follow certain standard protocols nationwide. If Armesto's abortion violated the standard of care, then we have strong reason to believe that the Overland Park clinic may be following the same patterns.

Providing false information in order to induce government action or inaction

There is reason to believe that Planned Parenthood may be aware that their conduct violates state law and that they have taken actions to conceal that information from law enforcement agencies.

Harvesting and/or illegal trafficking in fetal tissue

From 1997 through 2000 Life Dynamics Inc. was undercover inside the Overland Park Planned Parenthood abortion clinic and was able to document the harvesting and trade in fetal tissue. The Planned Parenthood clinic is also known as "Comprehensive Health" or "Comp Health" in the documents obtained and published by LDI. Click here to read Life Dynamics in-depth report.

Failing to comply with parental consent requirements

During the Life Dynamics Inc. phone call operation already referred to, evidence was uncovered that Planned Parenthood offices coached minor girls how to use the judicial override option in states with parental consent laws in order to keep from notifying parents, especially in incidents where the relationship was considered statutory rape. This effectively protected child sexual predators and returned their young victims to the hands of their abusers.

Failing to enforce the required 24-hour waiting period and other violations of Kansas Statutes

Michelle Armesto's testimony before a legislative committee revealed that her late-term abortion procedure was started by a Planned Parenthood abortionist before her consent forms were signed and that she was not presented with the legally required information until she was at the clinic on the day of her abortion.

"Where's there's smoke, there's fire. Planned Parenthood is giving off enough smoke that it would be irresponsible for us not to have this investigation in order to uncover the fire," Newman said.

Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation. Operation Rescue recently made headlines when it bought and closed an abortion clinic in Wichita, Kansas and has become the voice of the pro-life activist movement in America. Its activities are on the cutting edge of the abortion issue, taking direct action to restore legal personhood to the pre-born and stop abortion in obedience to biblical mandates.