Texas Grand Jury Indicts Anti-Abortion Activists

[silverscreenselect]

Two activists were indicted on charges of tampering with governmental records in connection with the Planned Parenthood videos. The grand jury also cleared Planned Parenthood of any wrongdoing. I'm mildly surprised a Texas grand jury would do this.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016 ... /79318450/

[BackInTex]

I'm mildly surprised a Texas grand jury would do this.

You shouldn't be.

Quote Link

Lauren Reeder, one of the prosecutors in the Harris County district attorney’s office, revealed last August that she was a member of the board of directors for the Planned Parenthood affiliate that was targeted by Daleiden.

Reeder’s LinkedIn page indicates that she has been a Planned Parenthood board member since 2013 and a fundraiser for the abortion provider since 2009:

[Bob78164]

The funny thing is that the grand jury was convened at the request of Texas's Lieutenant Governor to consider charges against Planned Parenthood. Be careful what you wish for. --Bob

[Pastor Fireball]

I'm mildly surprised a Texas grand jury would do this.

Even a blind squirrel can find a nut every now and then.

[Spock]

>>>The grand jury in Harris County indicted David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt on a felony charge of tampering with a governmental record. Daleiden was also indicted on a misdemeanor charge of “prohibition of the purchase and sale of human organs,” Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson said in a statement.<<<<

I am a little confused by the charge of "prohibition of the purchase and sale of human organs."

I never dreamed that this could be a charge-However, given the mass orgasms of liberals across the country regarding the charge-Can we at least start talking about developing a market for organs-kidneys, etc.?

Or are you in favor of the "Prohibition of the purchase and sale of human organs"?

[Bob78164]

>>>The grand jury in Harris County indicted David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt on a felony charge of tampering with a governmental record. Daleiden was also indicted on a misdemeanor charge of “prohibition of the purchase and sale of human organs,” Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson said in a statement.<<<<

I am a little confused by the charge of "prohibition of the purchase and sale of human organs."

I never dreamed that this could be a charge-However, given the mass orgasms of liberals across the country regarding the charge-Can we at least start talking about developing a market for organs-kidneys, etc.?

Or are you in favor of the "Prohibition of the purchase and sale of human organs"?

That's because a couple of words were omitted. They were charged with violating that prohibition. --Bob

[BackInTex]

>>>The grand jury in Harris County indicted David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt on a felony charge of tampering with a governmental record. Daleiden was also indicted on a misdemeanor charge of “prohibition of the purchase and sale of human organs,” Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson said in a statement.<<<<

I am a little confused by the charge of "prohibition of the purchase and sale of human organs."

I never dreamed that this could be a charge-However, given the mass orgasms of liberals across the country regarding the charge-Can we at least start talking about developing a market for organs-kidneys, etc.?

Or are you in favor of the "Prohibition of the purchase and sale of human organs"?

That's because a couple of words were omitted. They were charged with violating that prohibition. --Bob

There is a lot omitted.

Such as they never purchased or sold human organs. They simply tried to get other to admit to, or propose to sell. The same type of journalistic technique used across the country for other things, notably men trying to hook up with under-aged sex partners.

Oh, and they are also charged with the horrible crime of making/using a fake California driver's license. The same crime committed by 100,000s illegals in California. 20 years they could get. I'll sacrifice them if they will charge, convict, and sentence everyone doing the same thing.

These are BS charges, just like the BS PP puts forth everyday about the services they provide other than abortion.

[Bob78164]

I'm mildly surprised a Texas grand jury would do this.

You shouldn't be.

Quote Link

Lauren Reeder, one of the prosecutors in the Harris County district attorney’s office, revealed last August that she was a member of the board of directors for the Planned Parenthood affiliate that was targeted by Daleiden.

Reeder’s LinkedIn page indicates that she has been a Planned Parenthood board member since 2013 and a fundraiser for the abortion provider since 2009:

But the Harris County District Attorney is a Republican. And I don't see any claim that Ms. Reeder had any involvement with this grand jury. All the story actually says is that there's a prosecutor somewhere in the Harris County District Attorney's office (Harris County includes Houston) named Lauren Reeder who is actively involved in Planned Parenthood. Without a connection to this grand jury, that factoid is meaningless. --Bob

[BackInTex]

I'm mildly surprised a Texas grand jury would do this.

You shouldn't be.

Quote Link

Lauren Reeder, one of the prosecutors in the Harris County district attorney’s office, revealed last August that she was a member of the board of directors for the Planned Parenthood affiliate that was targeted by Daleiden.

Reeder’s LinkedIn page indicates that she has been a Planned Parenthood board member since 2013 and a fundraiser for the abortion provider since 2009:

But the Harris County District Attorney is a Republican. And I don't see any claim that Ms. Reeder had any involvement with this grand jury. All the story actually says is that there's a prosecutor somewhere in the Harris County District Attorney's office (Harris County includes Houston) named Lauren Reeder who is actively involved in Planned Parenthood. Without a connection to this grand jury, that factoid is meaningless. --Bob

Actively involve? They say she was a board member. A little more than actively. Not meaningless, but trivial, probably.

[silverscreenselect]

Such as they never purchased or sold human organs. They simply tried to get other to admit to, or propose to sell. The same type of journalistic technique used across the country for other things, notably men trying to hook up with under-aged sex partners.

I tend to doubt most journalists use forged documents, fraudulent ID's, bogus corporations, and doctored videos to prove their points.

I'm curious what Skoop has to say about the degree of journalistic ethics these people have displayed.

[silverscreenselect]

Actively involve? They say she was a board member. A little more than actively. Not meaningless, but trivial, probably.

Lauren Reeder may have been a board member of Planned Parenthood, but there's no evidence she had anything to do with the indictment. I would venture that if you looked at all the prosecutors in a large county, you'd find individuals involved in hundreds of different political, religious, charitable, and social organizations. That's like saying that Marty's old DA's office was biased in favor of amateur theater because he acted in a few productions.

[silvercamaro]

Such as they never purchased or sold human organs. They simply tried to get other to admit to, or propose to sell. The same type of journalistic technique used across the country for other things, notably men trying to hook up with under-aged sex partners.

I tend to doubt most journalists use forged documents, fraudulent ID's, bogus corporations, and doctored videos to prove their points.

I'm curious what Skoop has to say about the degree of journalistic ethics these people have displayed.

Have they claimed to be journalists? I thought they wanted to make a video, which they would pass along to any journalist, news organization, or blogger that would use it. Somebody used it, as I have seen a portion of it.

[Bob78164]

Such as they never purchased or sold human organs. They simply tried to get other to admit to, or propose to sell. The same type of journalistic technique used across the country for other things, notably men trying to hook up with under-aged sex partners.

I tend to doubt most journalists use forged documents, fraudulent ID's, bogus corporations, and doctored videos to prove their points.

I'm curious what Skoop has to say about the degree of journalistic ethics these people have displayed.

Have they claimed to be journalists? I thought they wanted to make a video, which they would pass along to any journalist, news organization, or blogger that would use it. Somebody used it, as I have seen a portion of it.

I'm a little surprised the civil lawsuit doesn't include a straight-up defamation claim. The video was deceptively edited to create the false appearance that Planned Parenthood in general, and the individuals unknowingly taped in particular, engage in illegal activities that most people would find despicable. Given the investigations, political consequences, and general foofooraw these videos caused, demonstrating monetary damages would be easy. And it would settle once and for all the falsity of the claims. --Bob

[silverscreenselect]

Have they claimed to be journalists? I thought they wanted to make a video, which they would pass along to any journalist, news organization, or blogger that would use it. Somebody used it, as I have seen a portion of it.

From their own website, http://www.centerformedicalprogress.org/:

The Center for Medical Progress is a group of citizen journalists dedicated to monitoring and reporting on medical ethics and advances.

David Daleiden is a citizen journalist with nearly a decade of experience in conducting investigative research on the abortion industry. In 2013, David started The Center for Medical Progress as a vehicle through which to pursue sophisticated, in-depth, and scintillating investigative journalism projects pertaining to contemporary bioethical issues.

[silvercamaro]

Have they claimed to be journalists? I thought they wanted to make a video, which they would pass along to any journalist, news organization, or blogger that would use it. Somebody used it, as I have seen a portion of it.

From their own website, http://www.centerformedicalprogress.org/:

The Center for Medical Progress is a group of citizen journalists dedicated to monitoring and reporting on medical ethics and advances.

David Daleiden is a citizen journalist with nearly a decade of experience in conducting investigative research on the abortion industry. In 2013, David started The Center for Medical Progress as a vehicle through which to pursue sophisticated, in-depth, and scintillating investigative journalism projects pertaining to contemporary bioethical issues.

Thank you for looking that up, sss. By coincidence, I am a citizen nuclear physicist.

[tlynn78]

Thank you for looking that up, sss. By coincidence, I am a citizen nuclear physicist.

Can I be a citizen dictator?

[silvercamaro]

Thank you for looking that up, sss. By coincidence, I am a citizen nuclear physicist.

Can I be a citizen dictator?

Absolutely. I will not be a citizen follower-of-orders, though, as I am far too busy in my secondary career as a citizen NASCAR driver.

[tlynn78]

Thank you for looking that up, sss. By coincidence, I am a citizen nuclear physicist.

Can I be a citizen dictator?

Absolutely. I will not be a citizen follower-of-orders, though, as I am far too busy in my secondary career as a citizen NASCAR driver.

Duly noted.

[silverscreenselect]

By coincidence, I am a citizen nuclear physicist.

That's nothing.

I am a citizen pain.

[BackInTex]

And the charges are dismissed.

The Harris County District Attorney's office on Tuesday dismissed all charges against anti-abortion activists who secretly videotaped Planned Parenthood officials in Houston.
David Robert Daleiden and Sandra Merritt were charged with tampering with a governmental record, for using a fake identification to gain access to the facility. In a surprise move before a hearing on the legitimacy of the indictment, prosecutors dismissed the charges.

[silverscreenselect]

And the charges are dismissed.

The Harris County District Attorney's office on Tuesday dismissed all charges against anti-abortion activists who secretly videotaped Planned Parenthood officials in Houston.
David Robert Daleiden and Sandra Merritt were charged with tampering with a governmental record, for using a fake identification to gain access to the facility. In a surprise move before a hearing on the legitimacy of the indictment, prosecutors dismissed the charges.

My faith in the Texas criminal justice system has been restored.

[SpacemanSpiff]

In a surprise move before a hearing on the legitimacy of the indictment, prosecutors dismissed the charges.

Just a question from those of us who don't live there - is the job of prosecutors an elected position, or is it selected in other ways?

[BackInTex]

In a surprise move before a hearing on the legitimacy of the indictment, prosecutors dismissed the charges.

Just a question from those of us who don't live there - is the job of prosecutors an elected position, or is it selected in other ways?

The District Attorney is elected. The prosecutors that work for the DA are not.