Brandon Davis, PoliticKING
David Daleiden, founder of the Center for Medical Progress, had intentions of showing exactly what a 19-week-old aborted fetus looked like being held in the hands of a medical technician. It was part of his investigation into Planned Parenthood's trade of fetal body parts for financial gain, which lead him here. Tricky thing was, he didn't have that picture. So he went to the Internet, found something close and inserted it into his documentary. As it turns out, the photo he used was the stillborn child of Alexis Fretz, not an abortion.
David Daleiden, The Blaze
Daleiden told CNN this fact made no difference, insisting that the fetus is the same age as the one referred to in his film, and that it was simply an illustration. He was later criticized for using a second video, in which an intact fetus kicks its leg and moves an arm shortly after being aborted. The video that became a hot topic in the GOP debates last fall.
In an interview in October of 2015, Daleiden admitted he had no information on where that video was actually taken. These two examples of confusing pictures and video allowed Planned Parenthood -- and its supporters -- to label the Center for Medical Progress's entire production a fraud. Still, questions loom over some of the footage, specifically that of the CEO of California-based, StemExpress, who is shown discussing financial benefits for abortion providers to use fetal tissue.
In a turn of events this week, California investigators searched the home of David Daleiden after Attorney General, Kamala Harris, obtained a warrant for search and seizure of Daleiden's property. The move immediately made headlines on both sides of the aisle. Anti-abortion groups called for Harris’ resignation on grounds that she had conflicting interests. Reportedly, Harris received campaign donations from Planned Parenthood affiliates during the last election cycle. Daleiden also accused Harris, who is running for Senate, of mounting a politically motivated campaign against him.
Kamala Harris, Photo: Department of Justice
Authorities seized a laptop and multiple hard drives from Daleiden’s Orange County apartment, he said in an email. The equipment contained all of the video Daleiden had filmed as part of his 30-month project, “including some very damning footage that has yet to be released to the public,” he said.
In defense of Harris’s actions, Erica Sackin, a Planned Parenthood spokeswoman, said, “David Daleiden’s lies are catching up with him. The only people who engaged in wrongdoing are the extremists who broke multiple laws to spread lies about Planned Parenthood — and it looks like they’re finally being held accountable.”
Numerous state investigations have so far turned up no evidence of wrong doing by Planned Parenthood. However, a Houston grand jury earlier this year indicted Daleiden in connection with fake driver’s licenses he used to gain access to Planned Parenthood facilities and abortion provider conferences.
When asked to comment on the call for Harris to quit, a spokesman for the California attorney general’s office said, "We can't comment on any on-going investigations."
Important things to consider: Planned Parenthood says only 3% of the services it provides are abortions. The other services center around reproductive health services and sex education. Lastly, if you are attempting to be a citizen journalist taking on big scandals, be sure to properly portray the facts, or you’ll just end up being investigated yourself…
Click below for Jesse Ventura's take on the abortion conversation:
The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of Ora Media, LLC, its affiliates, or its employees.
