Rand Paul Pursues Vote On Defunding Planned Parenthood Before The August Break
Meanwhile, the organization confirmed Monday that its website has been hacked by anti-abortion activists.
The Washington Post:
Rand Paul Says The GOP Can Defund Planned Parenthood Before The Recess
As Congress races toward its long summer recess, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is confident that he’ll get a vote to bar any taxpayer funds going to Planned Parenthood. “There’s a nationwide movement that we’ve been leading,” Paul said in an interview, after participating in a town hall with military veterans. “We will probably send a million emails out on this subject. I think by motivating the grassroots, there’s a very good chance we’ll get a vote on this.” (Weigel. 7/27)
The Washington Post:
Planned Parenthood’s Web Site On The Defense After Hacking Claims
Planned Parenthood has been swept up in a storm of controversy in recent weeks, after an antiabortion group started to release undercover videos of officials at the organization discussing how it provides organs from aborted fetuses for research. Now, even the group’s Web site is on the defense. Hackers who say they oppose Planned Parenthood claim to have posted a database associated with the organization’s Web site as well as the names and e-mail addresses of employees online. (Ohlheiser and Peterson, 7/27)
The Hill:
Planned Parenthood Confirms Attack From Anti-Abortion Hackers
Planned Parenthood confirmed Monday that anti-abortion hackers have attempted to infiltrate the organization, potentially exposing sensitive data on their employees. Dawn Laguens, Planned Parenthood executive vice president, called the incident a “gross invasion of privacy” that could put staff at risk. (Bennett, 7/27)
Reuters:
Planned Parenthood Investigating Claims Of Website Hack
Planned Parenthood called on the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice on Monday for help managing cybersecurity, following a report that the reproductive healthcare group's website had been hacked by anti-abortion activists. The organization has come under scrutiny since the release of two secretly recorded videos earlier this month that critics said showed it was involved in the illegal sale of aborted fetal tissue for medical research. (Cassella, 7/27)
Meanwhile, the state attorney general and state legislators in Texas are involved in an inquiry regarding the fetal tissue research issue highlighted in the controversial videos -
The Texas Tribune:
Lawmakers Reviewing Video In Texas Planned Parenthood Inquiry
Legislators on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee are being offered the chance to view a video obtained by the Texas Attorney General's Office as part of its inquiry into Planned Parenthood's practices regarding fetal tissue donation. A spokesman for Republican Committee Chairman Charles Schwertner confirmed that lawmakers on the committee and their staffers are "currently reviewing the video and gathering all the relevant facts" ahead of a Wednesday hearing on Planned Parenthood's "business practices" when it comes to fetal tissue. (Ura, 7/27)
The Texas Tribune:
Anti-Abortion Group Visited Planned Parenthood In Houston
The anti-abortion group behind two undercover videos of Planned Parenthood executives discussing fetal tissue donation visited one of the organization’s clinics in Houston, Planned Parenthood officials said Sunday. Two people “fraudulently representing themselves” as research executives and providing fake California driver's licenses toured the Planned Parenthood facility in April “under the guise of discussing tissue research with our clinic research staff,” said Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast spokeswoman Rochelle Tafolla. (Ura, 7/27)
And the New York Times digs into the dispute, which has raised questions about fetal tissue buyers and sellers, what the tissue is used for and what the law allows -
The New York Times:
Fetal Tissue From Abortions For Research Is Traded In A Gray Zone
Videos released by an anti-abortion group during the last two weeks have drawn attention to a little-known practice: the buying, selling and research use of fetal tissue acquired from abortion clinics. The group behind the tapes accuses Planned Parenthood of selling fetal tissue for profit — which is illegal and which Planned Parenthood denies doing. House Republicans plan to investigate. This may be just one more battle in the nation’s long war over abortion, but the dispute has raised questions about who the buyers and sellers are, what fetal tissue is used for and what the law allows. (Grady and St. Fleur, 7/27)