A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has ruled that the biotech firm, StemExpress, whose former employees are featured in several undercover videos exposing the Planned Parenthood baby parts scandal, cannot access the material of investigative journalists at the pro-life group, Center for Medical Progress (CMP).The ruling comes after a California court blocked the release of videos regarding certain meetings that took place between undercover videographers and StemExpress during a three-year investigation into the illegal sale of fetal body parts.
However, Superior Court Judge Joanne O’Donnell said the firm is unlikely to prevail in its attempt to stifle the First Amendment rights of the CMP.
“Plaintiff does not persuade the Court that the discovery it seeks is necessary to obtain the preliminary injunction,” said Judge O’Donnell in her order which was issued yesterday afternoon. “That is because it appears unlikely that the Court is going to grant the preliminary injunction.”
“The injunction Plaintiff seeks would prevent Defendants from disseminating the videotapes. First, this proposed injunction would constitute a prior restraint on the Defendants’ rights under the First Amendment and the parallel protections under the California Constitution.”
Attorneys from Alliance Defending Freedom, who are representing the CMP, were pleased with the decision.
“People who don’t have anything to hide don’t go to court to stop journalists from reporting the truth,” said Freedom of Conscience Defense Fund President Chuck LiMandri. “The court was right to deny StemExpress’ request to gain access to damaging material against them obtained through solid investigative journalism. Americans have the right to know the truth about Planned Parenthood's sale of baby body parts and the ‘fiscal rewards’ Stem Express says that it provides to abortion clinics.”
Life Legal Defense Foundation Vice President of Legal Affairs, Catherine Short, agrees: “As has been more than apparent from the videos that have been released, StemExpress and Planned Parenthood have plenty to hide. These videos not only expose the potential illegality of Planned Parenthood’s actions, they expose the grisly, inhuman nature of Planned Parenthood’s business.”
The CMP has released six videos thus far which have caused a national scandal for Planned Parenthood and prompted several states to revoke the organization’s Medicaid funding and/or to initiate investigations into possible criminal activity surrounding the procurement and sale of fetal body parts.
More videos are expected to be released soon.
