Congress is investigating Planned Parenthood following the release of videos from Center for Medical Progress that show top-level Planned Parenthood employees discussing their fetal parts business.
The House Oversight Committee sent a letter to Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards, authored by Reps. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and Jim Jordan (R-OH), listing seven requests from Richards.
The letter directly mentions the undercover videos, as well as potential “unlawful transactions involving fetal tissue.”
The notice also probes Planned Parenthood’s use of taxpayer dollars: “The disturbing content of these videos raises questions as to whether federal funds are being used to finance the potentially illegal conduct described therein.”
Items one through four, which pertain to funding, are not surprising requests. It is unlikely, however, that the abortion giant will be honest since it is clearly breaking the law. It’s response may still be telling.
Planned Parenthood, however, may have trouble coming up with an answer for the last point, since comprehensive health clinics far outnumber Planned Parenthood facilities. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) qualify for Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements, for example, and provide comprehensive services. Unlike Planned Parenthood, they do not provide abortions.
If such a request is complied with and submitted (Richards has until August 28 to act), there may be greater transparency of Planned Parenthood.
Unfortunately, Planned Parenthood’s track record proves that it likely will not respond. Previously, a lawyer for the organization claimed the abortion giant was unable to comply with congressional requests, while in Texas, Planned Parenthood refused to show up to a hearing. Richards has also made false and misleading statements about the services her organization provides.
