Undercover videos reignite Planned Parenthood fetal tissue debate

In 2015, a pro-life activist who was under investigation for criminal activity by the then-California Attorney General, Kamala Harris, released undercover footage earlier this month.

The footage appears to depict Planned Parenthood executives discussing the sale of body parts from late-term fetuses, some of which had been delivered alive and mostly intact.

In 2015, David Daleiden of the Center for Medical Progress (CMP) recorded two conversations with Dr. Ann Schutt-Ainé, the chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, and Tram Nguyen, RN, the branch's vice president of abortion access. Daleiden and a colleague posed as laboratory wholesalers at the National Abortion Federation's commercial trade show to obtain the recordings. He claims the videos reveal illegal practices by Planned Parenthood staff related to fetal tissue donation.

"Schutt-Ainé and Nguyen described dismembering the fetuses after delivery to get around possible violations of the federal partial-birth abortion law," Daleiden told The New York Post.

In one clip, Schutt-Ainé is heard saying: "You told me about the proposition, and so now every time I do a D&E [dilation and evacuation abortion], I'm like, 'Oh, there's some lungs, there's some kidneys.'"

Nguyen is recorded discussing fetal remains: "We just had to hurry up, whereas other days it's more intact, where it's like maybe only an arm that's disarticulated."

Later in the video, Nguyen is heard saying: "I'm like, 'Yeah, I have like a leg for you!' I'm like, oh s–t, if other people were to hear me, they'd be like, 'You are f–king evil.'"

The videos also appear to show discussions about obtaining intact late-term fetuses for organ harvesting. Schutt-Ainé describes techniques to maximize fetal intactness during abortion procedures.

Back in 2015, when CMP first released their undercover videos, Planned Parenthood dismissed it, saying their people were just chatting about above-board tissue donations for science. Planned Parenthood has not responded to requests for comment.

Daleiden is still in legal trouble over secretly filming the executives without prior permission. The activist faces eight felony counts in California for sneaking a camera into Planned Parenthood and using a fake driver's license to enter the Planned Parenthood premises in Houston. His trial is tentatively set for December in San Francisco.

CMP, while operating undercover, sent an email to Melissa Farrell, the vice president of research at Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, and Nguyen in June 2015, containing a purported contract for $750 per fetal liver and $1,600 per combination of fetal liver and thymus.

"Planned Parenthood repeatedly told Congress, the courts, and the public that it had 'rebuffed' any opportunity to sell aborted baby body parts in Texas," Daleiden stated.

The release of the initial CMP videos in 2015 prompted multiple investigations and legal actions. The National Abortion Federation obtained a federal injunction against releasing additional footage at the time.

Then-California Attorney General Kamala Harris opened a criminal probe into Daleiden and CMP in 2015 at Planned Parenthood's request. Daleiden has accused Harris of "weaponizing" her office against him.

In March 2016, California Department of Justice agents raided Daleiden's home and seized videos. Congress had also subpoenaed the footage from CMP in late 2015.

This May, a San Francisco court ruled CMP cannot be prevented from republishing any subpoenaed footage, allowing the release of these latest videos.

The newly published recordings have reignited debate over fetal tissue donation practices. Supporters of Planned Parenthood maintain the organization has followed all applicable laws. Critics argue the footage reveals illegal activity related to fetal remains.