Texas judge dismisses misdemeanor criminal charge against undercover Planned Parenthood journalist David Daleiden

Thomas More Society wins dismissal in defense of journalist

HOUSTON – June 14 – Misdemeanor criminal charges against undercover journalist David Daleiden have been dismissed by a Harris County, Texas, court this week. The charges for “unlawfully, intentionally and knowingly offer[ing] to buy human organs, namely, fetal tissue, for valuable consideration,” were brought against Daleiden in response to his investigation exposing Planned Parenthood’s involvement in the sale and trafficking of the body parts of aborted children. Felony charges related to the use of fake identifications in connection with entering the Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast facility in Houston, Texas, are pending before a different branch of the Harris County courts. The Thomas More Society is defending Daleiden in multiple court cases, including the Texas criminal charges, along with numerous lawsuits by the abortion industry.

“The Harris County prosecutors were in such a rush to criminalize David Daleiden that they did not properly obtain grand jury approval of each of the elements of the charged misdemeanor,” said Peter Breen, Thomas More Society Special Counsel. “All charges against Daleiden and his investigators should be dismissed, based on the evidence that Harris County District Attorney’s prosecutors colluded with Planned Parenthood to secure these indictments. Planned Parenthood’s illegitimate aim is clear: it hopes to turn attention away from the abortion industry’s baby parts trafficking, by instead attacking the man who exposed its illegal practices. The Harris County District Attorney’s office should reject that aim and prosecute Planned Parenthood, not David Daleiden and his investigators.”

Read the order dismissing the case for want of jurisdiction here [https://www.thomasmoresociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Criminal-charges-dropped.pdf]

About the Thomas More Society

The Thomas More Society is a national not-for-profit law firm dedicated to restoring respect in law for life, family, and religious liberty. Headquartered in Chicago, the Thomas More Society fosters support for these causes by providing high quality pro bono legal services from local trial courts all the way up to the United States Supreme Court. For more information, visit www.thomasmoresociety.org.