In 2015, journalist David Daleiden released a video claiming that Planned Parenthood was involved in selling body parts from aborted babies. The state of California took action against him, leading to a nearly decade-long legal battle.
Ultimately, the state decided to drop all remaining charges against Daleiden. He mentioned on Wednesday that he had agreed to plead “no contest” to one charge, but this wouldn’t imply any admission of wrongdoing or result in fines or probation. The plea, he explained, would lead to a misdemeanor conviction within six to twelve months, which would then be converted to a “not guilty” plea and dismissed in January 2025.
Back in 2017, California prosecutors indicted both Daleiden and fellow journalist Sandra Merritt on fifteen felony counts. This was based on claims that they secretly taped conversations with Planned Parenthood officials, allegedly revealing discussions about selling parts from aborted fetuses. In response, Planned Parenthood stated that tissue donation offered no financial benefit to themselves or patients and that any actual costs, like transportation to research centers, were simply reimbursed.
California’s then Attorney General, Xavier Becerra, asserted that these recordings violated state privacy laws, emphasizing the right to privacy as fundamental to California’s Constitution.
Daleiden articulated that his case was unique, being the first instance of a state attorney general pursuing criminal charges after a family planning organization sought to suppress information on how partial abortions might result in the sale of body parts from late-term abortions at facilities funded by taxpayers across California.
Becerra’s predecessor, Kamala Harris, initially initiated the investigation. Reports indicated that her team seized numerous materials from Daleiden’s home in 2016. Daleiden described the prosecution as a politically motivated attack, arguing that all his recordings were made in public spaces.
At the time, it was noted that Harris had seemed to have a conflict of interest, given her political ties to Planned Parenthood. In the years leading up to the investigation, the organization and its affiliates had contributed over $81,000 to Harris’s campaign efforts.
Emails obtained later appeared to show a concerning level of collaboration between Harris’s office and Planned Parenthood, with discussions about legislative priorities indicating a tight-knit relationship.
The ongoing case serves as a stark reminder of the extreme measures entities may adopt to target their adversaries.
