Like Tom Petty, Florida won’t back down.
Planned Parenthood, after being in an investigation in which they were caught breaking the law by performing second trimester abortions for which they were not licensed, claimed that the state of Florida was actually in the wrong and was even breaking its own laws. PP immediately filed suit against the state, but Florida remains determined to pursue justice.
In a letter sent Wednesday to Planned Parenthood’s attorney, Julie Gallagher, Florida Agency for Health Care Administration General Counsel Stuart Williams left no room for guessing in regards to the state’s determination. He writes:
Your client, Planned Parenthood, continues to misrepresent to the media that AHCA has changed its position, and Planned Parenthood clinics in Florida may now provide unauthorized second trimester abortions. This is false. AHCA has not changed its position, and continues to follow the trimester definitions set forth in Florida Administrative Code Rule 59A-9.019….
Planned Parenthood self-reported that they were performing unauthorized abortions during the second trimester at three of their Florida clinics….
Again, under Rule 59A-9.019, based on the information self-reported by Planned Parenthood, abortions were illegally performed during the second trimester at the three clinics at issue, and our investigation will continue. Please advise your client to govern itself accordingly.
Planned Parenthood is clearly on the defensive. Damage control is top priority at all levels. This is resulting in Planned Parenthood and its attorneys pulling out all stops and making some outrageously false statements. But no matter what they say, what action they take, there is only so much damage control can do.
The truth will come out, and it’s great to see Florida standing firm in the investigation despite threats and legal action.
