Planned Parenthood Responds to Latest Undercover Video in Virginia

As a follow up to Katie's previous post on the new undercover video by Live Action showing a Planned Parenthood employee in Virginia giving reproductive service advice to a couple saying they're involved in sex trafficking, we contacted Planned Parenthood to see what action would be taken and what information about the event was available. They provided a statement which included this paragraph about the conduct of the employee:

"In this morning’s publicized tape, the Planned Parenthood staff member reacted professionally to a highly unusual person posing as a patient. After the encounter, the staff member immediately notified her supervisor, who subsequently notified members of Planned Parenthood’s national security team, who are working with the FBI, which is investigating these visits."

The statement, which says local and federal authorities were notified of the Virginia event, opens by calling Lila Rose, the president of Live Action, "a self-described “extremist”' and cites as its reference a 2009 article from the LA Times. However, in the article they cite, the only place Rose uses the word "extremist" is when when quoting what others say about her:

For Rose, the threat was a badge of honor: "They are on the lookout for me," she told an audience of conservative Christian activists at the Family Research Council's Values Voter Summit in Washington in September. "When I walk into Planned Parenthoods across the country, I am flattered to see my picture on the wall. It is because to Planned Parenthood, I am -- quote -- a 'known anti-choice extremist.' This is one of the better compliments I have received." (bold emphasis added) ~ LA Times

Planned Parenthood also sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder on January 18th calling attention to the incidents in Virginia and in other states, including the shocking encounter with a Planned Parenthood clinic worker in New Jersey who ended up being fired on the evidence of the undercover video. The letter says the sex trafficking the man described in the encounters may be a hoax related to undercover videos or that, if the incidents are true, they indicate possible violations of several federal criminal statues.

The letter states "members of our staff have made it clear to this man that Planned Parenthood's first priority is the welfare of our patients...and that we are obligated to comply and will comply with applicable state laws relating to reporting of suspected instances of conduct that endangers the welfare of minors."

Watch the video and judge for yourself whether this was the case in New Jersey (note: at the link, there is information on how to watch the full, unedited version of the video, which Planned Parenthood is calling for in the Virginia case).