In the wake of a second Planned Parenthood video showing a top official haggling over the sale of body parts taken from aborted babies, and the subsequent release of full-length videos, the Left is still standing by the beleaguered organization.
After the first video, the White House said federal funding for Planned Parenthood would continue. Pressed on the matter yesterday at the morning press briefing, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said:
“I haven’t spoken with the President about the actual videos. I have read the reports — and I am confident he has, too — raising significant concerns about the way in which those videos were selectively edited to distort the not just the words of the individual speaking, but also the position of Planned Parenthood.”
Bills in the House and Senate have been offered to block federal funds from going to Planned Parenthood, while also ordering an investigation into the organization, but with little Democratic support. Only one Democrat, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), has joined the call for an investigation, signing onto a letter calling on Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell to fully cooperate with any investigation.
Asked about calls for a criminal investigation of the matter, brand-new Attorney General Loretta Lynch said:
“I’m aware of those matters generally from the media, and from some inquiries that have been made to the Department of Justice, and again at this point we’re going to review all the information and determine what steps, if any, to take at the appropriate time.”
The Center for Medical Progress, which has been releasing one video (and then a full-length follow-up video) each week since the conclusion of its three-year investigation, has not indicated what will be shown in future videos. It has, however, indicated more videos will be coming. But, Planned Parenthood, in response to a congressional inquiry, indicates at least one of the future videos may show actual “tissue procurement” at a Planned Parenthood facility.
But rather than go after Planned Parenthood for its apparent violations of federal law, Democrats in Congress are instead asking the DOJ investigate CMP for what they perceive to be violations of state and/or federal law.
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