Planned Parenthood President is “Proud” of Harvesting, Trafficking of Aborted Baby Body Parts

Planned Parenthood President and CEO Cecile Richards speaks at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. (Photo: AP)

Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards will say she is “proud” of her organization’s role in the harvesting and trafficking of aborted baby body parts before the House Oversight and Government Reform committee Tuesday. In a transcript obtained prior to her testimony, Richards will apparently call for an investigation into the Center for Medical Progress, a pro-life group that filmed the controversial undercover videos that led to multiple ongoing state and federal investigations.

“Planned Parenthood is proud of its limited role in supporting fetal tissue research,” Richards will say to lawmakers.

Undercover footage released by CMP in the first video shows Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s Senior Director of Medical Services, Dr. Deborah Nucatola, describing how Planned Parenthood sells the body parts of aborted babies, and admitting she and others at the organization use and alter partial-birth abortions to supply intact body parts. Richards, herself, was featured in the video praising Nucatola’s work to facilitate connections for fetal tissue collection.

Yet, in her statement before Congress, Richards will rail against CMP Project Lead David Daleiden and call for him to be investigated, because she says he and his group “tried unsuccessfully to entrap Planned Parenthood physicians and staff for nearly three years.” Daleiden and members of CMP filmed the videos after posing as an executive of a nonexistent firm that buys fetal tissue for scientists.

According to its 2013-2014 annual report, Planned Parenthood received $528.4 million dollars in taxpayer federal funding for the year ending June 30, 2014. During the same year, the organization performed 327,653 abortions, which they have repeatedly claimed does not result in the harvest of body parts for sale or other illegal use. In fact, when they were first caught harvesting baby body parts 15 years ago, Planned Parenthood claimed it was the action of a rogue affiliate, or franchise-like location.

The sale or purchase of human fetal tissue is a federal felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000 (42 U.S.C. 289g-2).