GOP Lawmaker Says Hearing Should Show Planned Parenthood Violated the Law

The first House hearing investigating the Planned Parenthood videos should show that the health clinic violated the law, a top Republican lawmaker said.

“There is no question to any reasonable soul that Planned Parenthood violated the law, though to expect the Obama Justice Department to investigate is a pipe dream, “ Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) told TheBlaze in an interview Friday.

In lieu of the Justice Department, the House Judiciary Committee has been investigating Planned Parenthood and will hold the first in a series of hearings on Wednesday since the release of a series of undercover videos purporting to show clinic officials discussing the sale of aborted fetal tissue for research.

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“The videos make it clear Planned Parenthood has been moving the baby’s bodies to better harvest their organs in conducting partial-birth abortions,” said Franks, who chairs the House Judiciary subcommittee on the Constitution and civil justice.

Wednesday's hearing will also examine the details of late-term abortions, what could be involved in altering a procedure in order to collect fetal organs, and a history of the laws that prevent or fail to prevent the procedure.

“The hearing’s efficacy alone is that some people are blind to what’s happening with Planned Parenthood, and this should open their eyes,” he said. “Some Democrats are so bought and paid for by the abortion industry in general, I think they will still do everything they can to prevent an honest debate.”

Franks said he does not believe the President Barack Obama will act, referring to him as “the abortion president.”

“Barack Obama has not devoted one syllable in defense of these babies and that will mark his legacy as the greatest disgrace,” Franks said.

Beyond Congress, at least a dozen states have opened up an investigation into potential wrongdoing by Planned Parenthood. Some have taken action to restrict funding.

A Planned Parenthood representative did not respond to phone and email inquiries from TheBlaze, but clinic officials have insisted that the videos were selectively edited to smear the organization.

“All the videos in their entirety are posted online,” Franks said, calling Planned Parenthood's argument ridiculous.

Franks declined to say at this point what the committee hearing will reveal, but did say the investigation ties in with legislation to prevent late-term abortions at 24 weeks, when some research shows unborn babies can feel pain.

If enacted, this law would have outlawed any of the activities in the videos, Franks said. However, after passing the House, it was halted by a Senate Democratic filibuster.

“Nothing would make me happier than defunding Planned Parenthood , but we don’t only need to defund them, we need to make it illegal to kill babies even if they are old enough to have been born,” Franks said. “This law would mean those little babies can keep their little body parts and carry them into life.”