In 2016, while serving as California’s Attorney General, Kamala Harris ordered the seizure of undercover videos that exposed Planned Parenthood officials discussing the sale of fetal tissue, according to journalist David Daleiden. These videos allegedly showed high-ranking Planned Parenthood executives talking about selling organs, such as livers for $1,500, and described procedures like dismembering fetuses to avoid classifying late-term abortions as partial-birth abortions.
David Daleiden, who released these tapes, now faces eight felony charges and could face jail time for his role in exposing the abortion organization, as reported by the New York Post.
Daleiden claimed that Harris, as Attorney General, “led a cover-up of late-term abortion crimes” by confiscating his tapes. The videos included Planned Parenthood officials allegedly discussing the sale of fetal organs like livers, lungs, kidneys, and limbs. Daleiden’s lawyers revealed that Planned Parenthood executives in California arranged meetings with Harris regarding the videos. An email from an employee in Harris’ office, dated October 15, 2015, indicated that the then-Attorney General wanted to expedite the case.
According to Daleiden, in 2015, Planned Parenthood requested Harris to seize all his undercover footage. He questioned whether Harris was aware that these officials were “giggling about selling livers for $1,500 and ripping legs off live babies to hide partial-birth abortions.”
Daleiden shared that Harris eventually dispatched 11 armed agents to raid his apartment and confiscate all the undercover footage, despite a state judge later ruling that the tapes were clearly of public interest. He noted that the damage to his team was already done by then.
After Harris was elected to the Senate in 2016, she appointed Lily Adams, the daughter of Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards, as one of her top aides. Daleiden and his colleague, Sandra Merritt, were initially charged with 15 felonies in 2017. Following public criticism, including an op-ed from the LA Times editorial board, the charges were reduced.
These charges were primarily related to conspiracy to invade privacy and for recording people without consent. The LAPD had previously declined to pursue the case when a Planned Parenthood representative filed a complaint, citing that the footage was taken in a public area.
Daleiden argued that Harris must have been aware of the content of the tapes, given that some had already been viewed millions of times on YouTube.
According to the LA Times, Harris’ office did not comment on the case at the time, as it was an ongoing investigation. In 2017, Harris’ successor, Xavier Becerra, issued a warrant for Daleiden’s arrest, charging him with the original 15 felonies.