David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt, the two anti-abortion activists who infiltrated Planned Parenthood's facility in Houston in April of last year, was indicted on Tuesday by the city's grand jury. Originally, the court hearing was about a criminal case filed by the two against the reproductive health organization but the members of the jury turned against the two plaintiffs.
According to Newsmax, on April 9, 2015, Daleiden and Merritt entered the Houston office of Planned Parenthood posing as representatives of a company known as BioMax. The two used fake IDs and driver's licenses to mask their true identities.
The main objective of the duo was to prove that the organization sells fetal tissue to biomedical researchers for profit, which is considered as a federal crime. It is, however, legal for clinics and organizations to donate tissue and receive reimbursements for their expenses, Chicago Tribune has learned.
But, in the case against Planned Parenthood, Daleiden and Merritt wanted to make it appear that the organization was directly earning from the sale of body tissues. The two even videotaped their meeting with representatives of the organization and showed it in court.
However, upon viewing the tape, members of the jury noticed that the clip appeared to have been altered to make it appear like Planned Parenthood was engaging in an illegal transaction. The grand jury then became suspicious of the evidence presented before them and turned their attention on the plaintiffs.
As a result, the accusers became the accused. It was also highlighted during the court hearing that Daleiden and Merritt made fake IDs to carry out their operation. The case ended with the two being indicted for tampering with government documents. They were also charged with trying to purchase human organs.
Daleiden, however, maintained that he and his accomplice only did what investigative journalists would do when placed in a similar situation. According to the Houston Public Media, due to the charges filed against them, the two could face a fine of up to $10,000 and a maximum jail time of 10 years.
