A board member of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast has been found to be concurrently working as a prosecutor at a Texas District Attorney's office which indicted two pro-life activists on Monday following its investigation of the allegations raised against the abortion service provider.
Lauren Reeder works as a prosecutor with the Harris County District Attorney's Division of Criminal Family Law while serving as board director of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, according to Christian News Network.
Reports said that Reeder told District Attorney Devon Anderson, a pro-life Republican, earlier this year about her ties to Planned Parenthood to be "transparent."
"I don't think there's any conflict in my dual roles in two separate organisations," Reeder told reporters.
Anderson said Reeder would not be involved in the case.
"She will not be involved in any manner in this investigation," Anderson said, according to the Houston Chronicle. "If at any time in the future, reliable and credible information is brought to my attention that would question our ability to continue to perform a fair, thorough and independent investigation of this matter due to her board membership, I will revisit the issue of seeking the appointment of an independent prosecutor and act accordingly."
A Houston grand jury indicted David Daleiden of the Center for Medical Progress (CMP) on Monday for a felony charge of "tampering with a governmental record" for making a fake driver's licence in conducting his undercover investigation against Planned Parenthood and a misdemeanor related to buying human tissue.
He posed as a representative of a foetal tissue procurement company in order to talk to Planned Parenthood officials purportedly to buy body organs. He secretly recorded the discussions and released an investigative series last July.
In addition, Sandra Merritt, 62, was also charged with tampering with a governmental record for printing the licence, which was used to access a Planned Parenthood gathering in Houston.
Surprisingly, the grand jury cleared Planned Parenthood of any wrongdoing despite proof that the organisation agreed to obtain payment for the body parts of aborted babies.
"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," Daleiden said in defence of his group's action.
He added, "We respect the processes of the Harris County district attorney, and note that buying foetal tissue requires a seller as well. Planned Parenthood still cannot deny the admissions from their leadership about foetal organ sales captured on video for all the world to see."
Tim Brown, in an article on Freedom Outpost, says he could not believe that "Daleiden is being charged with the very crime he was exposing? Seriously?"
"He can play the part, just like police do when they engage in drug busts, but have only the intention of exposing the crime and yet, he is the one charged with what these devils are engaged in?" he said.
