Court issues temporary restraining order against producer of Planned Parenthood undercover videos
SAN FRANCISCO (Christian Examiner) – A temporary restraining order preventing The Center for Medical Progress from releasing more undercover video footage of StemExpress staff has been issued by the California State Supreme Court.
CMP released three videos in the last three weeks exposing Planned Parenthood for allegedly engaging in the harvesting and sale of body parts from aborted babies bought by StemExpress, according to an article in Life Site News.
The transactions violate federal law prohibiting the sale and trafficking of human tissues, Life Site reported CMP alleges.
The videos, filmed at a restaurant in May, show Planned Parenthood employees discussing profits for the sale of fetal organs.
With nine more videos scheduled for release according to lead researcher David Daleiden – it is unknown what affect the restraining order might have on the project.
LifeSiteNews reported Daleiden said the ruling is narrow.
"The judge actually threw out completely the part of StemExpress' case where they were asking to suppress the documents on their baby parts sales," Daleiden said.
On CMP's Facebook page, a July 29 statement asserts StemExpress' complaints are "meritless" and accused the company of attempting to suppress free speech.
"The Center for Medical Progress follows all applicable laws in the course of our investigative journalism work and will contest all attempts from Planned Parenthood and their allies to silence our First Amendment rights and suppress investigative journalism," the statement reads.
StemExpress said in a July 29 news release it sought the restraining order on the charge that CMP violated California's anti-wiretapping law and committed an invasion of privacy. The company vowed to "pursue all legal remedies against CMP and Daleiden."
In a July 16 news release StemExpress said it supported leading research institutions in the United States and internationally. The company said it "prides itself on complying with all laws."
"Written donor consent is required for any donation, including bone marrow, tissue of all types or blood," the StemExpress release reads.
Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, and a force behind the videos, told Life Site News the clips dehumanize the abortionists, while also meeting the objective of humanizing the unborn babies.
"When people see and hear terms like 'eyes, livers, hearts' it's like, 'what are we talking about here?'" Pavone said. "'This is ghoulish disgusting activity.'"
The restraining order is expected to remaining in place until an Aug. 19 hearing.