Editor's note: This post was authored by Townhall intern Claire E. Healey.
After years of investigative research, the pro-life group Live Action released its extensive report, “Lies, Corruption, and Scandal: Six Years of Exposing Planned Parenthood” to every member of Congress on Wednesday.
Lila Rose, the president and founder of Live Action, along with her team of volunteers, distributed the “damning investigative report” to each House and Senate office from Wednesday to Thursday. The report details Live Action’s investigation of Planned Parenthood over the last six years and reveals that Planned Parenthood employees help with sex-selective abortions, assist in obtaining contraceptives for underage teens, and the covering up of sex trafficking and statutory rape, among other egregious offenses.
“I think the report is explosive," Rose said. "I think the report is a shocking and comprehensive view of what our nation has allowed all over our country.”
Planned Parenthood receives $500 million a year of taxpayer money from the state and federal level, which accounts for over half the organization’s budget, according to Rose. Live Action’s rotating teams also delivered personalized letters to every House and Senate member calling for immediate revocation of all taxpayer funds.
“This is an organization which has been criminally investigated, which has been sued, which has been exposed time and time again, and so we’re calling on all those who have the power to do it whether they are at the state or the federal level, to immediately revoke all taxpayer funds,” Rose said.
Live Action sends its undercover investigative journalists to Planned Parenthood facilities, posing as women seeking abortions, contraception and relevant advice. The journalists’ undercover videos reveal instances of Planned Parenthood employees facilitating the sexual exploitation of minors as well as race- and sex-based abortions, providing medical misinformation, and coercive manipulation.
Live Action has received criticism for its undercover tactics to record Planned Parenthood’s illicit work. Rose explained that investigative work has been practiced by journalists, as well as the CIA and FBI, for years. She also said that businesses use such strategies to improve their livelihoods.
“This needs to be front and center in the public discussion, front and center in political debates,” Rose said. “You’re not going to get the answers by calling Planned Parenthood’s PR line. You’re going to get them by actually posing as real victims, as women with real difficult situations, asking real questions in the clinic and see how are they actually operating.”