Court documents, fake ID's revealed in Planned Parenthood case

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Court documents detailing the indictment of the anti-abortion activists who shot a series of undercover videos were released Tuesday.

The activists are a part of an anti-abortion group The Center for Medical Progress, and the videos' purpose was to secretly record footage that could show Planned Parenthood had illegally sold fetal tissue.
This led to the governor calling for a criminal investigation.

But now, instead of charging Planned Parenthood, a Harris County grand jury has indicted the two behind videos.

The indicted anti-abortion activists who made undercover videos about Planned Parenthood live in California,  but do plan to turn themselves into authorities.

The fake driver's licenses David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt used when presenting themselves to Planned Parenthood are shown in our Fox 26 video above.

Normally, the use of a fake ID would not result in felony charges, but Texas state law raises the crime to a felony if someone uses a fake government document with the intent to defraud or harm another.

The Harris County grand jury decided the two did just that when they tried to make undercover videos with the intent of hurting Planned Parenthood's reputation.

Planned Parenthood said it's important to note that the organization was cleared of any wrongdoing.

“According to our attorney, the grand jury never even called anyone from Planned Parenthood to testify. The grand jury never even considered any charges against Planned Parenthood, so Planned Parenthood was cleared of any wrongdoing in this matter,” Melaney Linton, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast.

Daleiden and Merrit are charged with tampering with governmental record.

Daleiden also has a second misdemeanor charge related to the purchase and sale of human organs, which stems from his offer to Planned Parenthood to buy fetal tissue, to which Planned Parenthood says they did not respond.

“The fact that they spent years creating this deception, creating this medical company under false pretenses demonstrates the length at which they went to to try to deny women of access to reproductive healthcare,” said Linton.

Now, the courts will be taking a closer look at the activists who plan come to the Harris County jail where they will be processed and allowed to post bond.

Daleiden has released a statement saying: The center for medical progress uses the same undercover techniques that investigative journalists have used for decades in exercising our first amendment rights to freedom of speech and of the press, and follows all applicable laws. we respect the processes of the Harris County District Attorney, and note that buying fetal tissue requires a seller as well. planned parenthood still cannot deny the admissions from their leadership about fetal organ sales captured on video for all the world to see.

Houston attorney Jared Woodfill will represent Daleiden and Merritt.