A Texas grand jury surprised the public when it cleared Planned Parenthood of any illegal activity. Instead, the jury indicted members of the Center for Medical Progress. Legal experts from all over the US are now weighing the jury's decision.
The Houston panel indicated David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt on charges of tampering with the governmental record, misdemeanor charge related to purchasing human organs, and felony. The charges against Deleiden and Merritt could send them to prison for 20 years.
According to CNN, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick ordered the investigation after the undercover video was released. The Center for Medical Progress, founded by David Daleiden, covertly made a video in an attempt to prove that Planned Parenthood is making a profit out of tissue reimbursement.
Harvard constitutional scholar and Bloomberg View columnist Noah Feldman said that the twist in the case is a stark reminder that the criminal law is a dangerous animal. The Wall Street Journal quoted Mr. Feldman that Daleiden's amateur activism may or may not have crossed ethical lines. However, if he crossed legal lines, the CMP founder can legitimately be prosecuted.
Professor Eugene Volokh of UCLA explores the First Amendment dimensions, investigating whether a journalistic purpose could exempt someone from criminal prosecution. She said that journalists need to follow the law in investigating their stories. He added that if the law bans using false documents or offering to buy fetal tissue or recording conversations without the party's permission, journalists are bound by that no less than anyone else.
Catholic News Agency reported that Planned Parenthood has maintained that its affiliates have acted within legal bounds. Both the Senate and House committees have launched investigations into the organization for wrongdoing, but no evidence has yet been announced confirming the accusations.
Conservative pundits have questioned the possible intentions of Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson, who is the prosecutor handling the case. Meanwhile, defense lawyer Murray Newman comes to her defense saying the Ms. Anderson made the right decision despite potential political consequences.
Murphy Klasing, the lawyer of David Daleiden and Sandra Merrit, said that his client would travel from their home bases in California to Texas to plead not guilty to the charges. The Center for Medical Progress insisted that Planned Parenthood and its affiliates have evidently confessed in the video footages that they were selling fetal organs for profit.
