Planned Parenthood accused anti-abortion activist David Daleiden, creator of undercover videos, of a “video smear campaign” that amounted to racketeering and fraud.
The lawsuit filed in federal court in San Francisco Thursday accused Daleiden and his Center for Medical Progress, (CMP), of creating a complex criminal enterprise conceived and executed by “anti-abortion extremists” using fake identifications, and large-scale illegal taping to demonize and harass Planned Parenthood.
The anti-abortionists created a fake company called Biomax Procurement Services, pretending to be a fetal tissue procurement company, stole one woman’s identity and used a credit card with a fake name, according to the complaint. All this preceded release of a series of YouTube videos purporting to show Planned Parenthood violated federal law regarding tissue donation, the suit states.
So far 10 states that initiated investigations of CMP’s false claim have cleared Planned Parenthood of all allegations of wrongdoing, the suit says.
Another eight states, including California, refused to open inquiries saying nothing substantiated the claims against Planned Parenthood.
The lawsuit points to the allegedly violent history of those involved, calling them “veterans of extremist anti-abortion groups.”
CMP’s secretary, Troy Newman, has been president of Operation Rescue since 1999. In 2003, Newman issued a press release calling the murder of abortion doctor, Dr. John Britton, “justifiable defense action.”
Newman’s group also allegedly harassed abortion doctor, George Tiller, until 2009 when Tiller was murdered. The killer got information about Tiller’s location from Operation Rescue, the suit claims.
Operation Rescue member James Kopp admitted to the 1998 murder of abortion doctor Barnett Slepian, the suit states.
Newman’s co-author, Cheryl Sullenger, served two years in federal prison after admitted to a conspiracy to blow up an abortion clinic in 1988. She is currently a senior policy advisor to Operation Rescue.
The lawsuit seeks an injunction to stop the group from further harassment of Planned Parenthood and damages and restitution.
Case: Planned Parenthood v. Center for Medical Progress, No. 16-236KAW
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