Judge approves release of undercover abortion videos to Congressional investigating committee

October 07, 2015

A federal judge in California has ruled that the Center for Medical Progress (CMP) can submit its undercover videos of Planned Parenthood and other abortion-industry groups to a Congressional investigating committee.

The National Abortion Federation (NAF) had brought suit to prevent the release of the undercover videos, and had asked the court to block the CMP from complying with a subpoena from the House Oversight Committee.

In his October 6 ruling, Judge William Orrick recognized that a Congressional committee has its own power to subpoena evidence, “and it is not up to the courts to go beyond the narrow confines of determining the committee’s inquiry is in its province.”

However, Judge Orrick also ruled that the CMP must also turn over all video evidence to the NAF, which has won a temporary restraining order against public release of videos from its annual meeting. Judge Orrick said that he granted that request because he was persuaded that public disclosure of the material from the NAF meeting could cause irreparable harm to members of the pro-abortion group.

The judge ruled, however, that handing the videos over to a Congressional committee did not constitute public disclosure.

 

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Further information:

• Center for Medical Progress can release Planned Parenthood probe video to Congress, judge rules (Washington Times)
• Judge rules Congress will see all undercover abortion footage (LifeSite News)
• Judge Permits Center for Medical Progress to Provide Congress With Unedited Videos Despite Restraining Order (Daily Signal)