2016 GOP Contenders Call for Investigation of Planned Parenthood
Kate Scanlon /
After an undercover video showing a Planned Parenthood employee discussing the sale of fetal body parts was released Tuesday, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has announced that he has directed the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals to investigate allegations that Planned Parenthood is profiting from the trafficking of fetal body parts.
In a statement, Jindal, a Republican presidential candidate, said that the undercover “video of a Planned Parenthood official discussing the systematic harvesting and trafficking of human body parts is shocking and gruesome.”
“This same organization is seeking to open an abortion clinic in New Orleans,” Jindal said. “I have instructed Louisiana’s Department of Health and Hospitals to conduct an immediate investigation into this alleged evil and illegal activity and to not issue any licenses until this investigation is complete. I am also asking the FBI to assist DHH in investigating this alleged criminal activity by this organization.”
Former Hewlett-Packard CEO and Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina also condemned the video in a statement.
“I am proudly pro-life,” Fiorina said. “I believe that every human life has potential and that every human life is precious. This latest news is tragic and outrageous. This isn’t about ‘choice.’ It’s about profiting on the death of the unborn while telling women it’s about empowerment.”
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, another Republican presidential candidate, touted his efforts to defund Planned Parenthood.
“The video showing a Planned Parenthood employee selling the body parts of aborted children is a disturbing reminder of the organization’s penchant for profiting off the tragedy of a destroyed human life,” Perry said in a statement. “It is because of stories like this that I signed legislation defunding Planned Parenthood in the state of Texas—to protect human life and the health and safety of Texans.”
Congress should investigate and defund Planned Parenthood: https://t.co/VTwyWyqUOv
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) July 14, 2015
On Tuesday, the Center for Medical Progress released an undercover video of Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s senior director of medical services, Dr. Deborah Nucatola, describing the sale of fetal body parts at the organization’s affiliates.