Chicago — A pro-life group filed a complaint with the IRS this week against Planned Parenthood, alleging that the organization violated its nonprofit status by deploying a mobile abortion van offering free services near the Democratic National Convention.
The group 40 Days for Life released documents exclusively to Fox News Digital on Wednesday accusing Planned Parenthood Great Rivers and Planned Parenthood Great Rivers – IL of violating their tax-exempt status.
“Targeting political parties or candidates to offer free abortions or in-kind gifts is strictly prohibited by the IRS – this is a fundamental rule that all nonprofits understand,” CEO Sean Carney told Fox News Digital. “We’re astonished at Planned Parenthood’s recklessness in this public forum.”
Conservatives say Chicago has a ‘bizarre’ situation at the Democratic National Convention with abortion trucks, inflatable intrauterine devices and free vasectomies
Mobile Family Planning Clinic (Jamie Joseph/Fox News Digital)
“In addition to this allegation, the message being sent by the DNC is dark and somewhat foolish: that abortion is going to be a priority — not an idea or a policy, but an action — to have abortions as part of their convention and to brag about it,” Carney said. “I’ve never seen a political party, or frankly a candidate, celebrate abortion as a No. 1 issue.”
“These actions by Planned Parenthood openly advertise and offer pro bono services to attendees of national political rallies and directly affiliated nonprofit organizations on behalf of a political party and specific political candidates,” the filing said.
“These actions clearly constitute or suggest direct or implicit support for any political party, policy or candidate,” the filing adds, which violates the organization’s nonprofit status.
Pro-life groups hold outreach near Democratic National Convention to fight abortion trucks
A Planned Parenthood mobile van offers free vasectomies and medication abortions and an American Contraception Education Fund inflatable IUD is displayed next to a taco truck near the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, Illinois, on Tuesday, August 20, 2024. (Fox News Digital)
Planned Parenthood of Great Rivers in St. Louis announced in a post on X that it would be sending buses to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 19 and 20 to offer free services. As of Tuesday, Planned Parenthood officials told Fox News Digital that it only provides medication abortions and was fully booked.
“Here we come, Chicago! Our mobile clinic will be in the West Loop on August 19th & 20th with @ChiAbortionFund and @TheWienerCircle providing free vasectomies and medication abortions,” the post read. “Emergency contraception will also be available at no cost, with no appointment needed.”
The Trump-endorsed Republican platform’s soft language on abortion has irked some social conservatives.
Dr. McNicholas works inside a Planned Parenthood mobile van offering free vasectomies and medication abortions near the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, Illinois, on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Fox News Digital)
“We are pleased to announce that we are taking steps to combat the spread of the virus,” said Dr. Colleen McNicholas, chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, in a press release., “Accessibility is a core value at Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, and our mobile health clinic will help us provide care to more people who need it.”
“As people from across the country gather in Illinois this week, we are proud to demonstrate what’s possible when policies support truly accessible reproductive health care,” McNicholas said.
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Democrats have made abortion a central issue in their party’s policy agenda this election year, warning that a Trump presidency could lead to a nationwide federal ban on abortion.
Former President Trump has already said that the decision to restrict abortion would be left to individual states following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
The abortion issue took center stage on the first day of the Democratic National Convention, with several speakers speaking at length about abortion being one of the central issues at the convention. Democratic Party 2024 platform.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Planned Parenthood for comment.
