Anti-Choice Video Maker David Daleiden Turns Himself in to Face Felony Charge
David Daleiden, the anti-choice fanatic who conducted a years-long illegal “sting” operation to create a series of deceptively edited videos attacking Planned Parenthood with dishonest claims that they “sell baby parts,” turned himself in to authorities in Texas today to face a felony charge stemming from his illegal activities that could result in up to 20 years in prison. He was immediately released on bond and will return to Texas in March for a court date.
Prosecutors have offered Daleiden and his accomplice Sandra Merritt a probation deal if they plead guilty, but their religious fanatic lawyers from the Thomas More Society are planning to turn the offer down.
“David will not be taking the [offer],” Peter Breen, special counsel with the Thomas More Society, a legal aid organization assisting with Daleiden’s criminal defense, told reporters outside the Harris County courthouse Thursday. “What we want is an apology and that’s where we’re at right now. He is innocent of the charges.”
The Thomas More Society is infamous for their activist stance on religious right legal problems; they were the firm that tried to defend the Dover, Pennsylvania, school district’s attempt to force creationism into public schools in 2004, and more recently they were involved in Kentucky clerk Kim Davis’s anti-gay clown show. This is a convergence of very bad, very regressive people.
Daleiden and the Thomas More Society are going to try to hide behind the First Amendment to excuse his alleged criminal activity, but according to experts the First Amendment won’t shield these defendants.
Planned Parenthood has issued a statement about Daleiden’s claim to be a “journalist:”
“We don’t know of any journalists who have engaged in wire fraud and mail fraud, lied to multiple government agencies, tampered with government documents, and broken laws in at least four states — only to lie about what they found,” said Eric Ferrero, vice president at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “It’s hard to imagine anyone calling that ‘journalism.’”
At this point, 12 states have conducted investigations into Planned Parenthood’s practices — prompted by Daleiden’s sleazy attack videos — and every single one of those investigations has ended up clearing Planned Parenthood of any wrongdoing.
Here’s David Daleiden’s smirking mug shot for the record.
#breaking: Mugshot of David Daleiden, 2nd Planned Parenthood suspect @PhilArcher_KPRC LIVE @KPRC2 11 & 12 pic.twitter.com/i7Sl3q5RN3
— Mike Friedrich (@FriedrichMedia) February 4, 2016