Ethics Investigation Launched Into Iowa Attorney General's Conduct in Telemed Abortion Scandal
DES MOINES, Iowa, Dec. 14, 2010 /
Christian Newswire/ -- Operation Rescue has received confirmation that a formal ethics investigation has been launched by the Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board into conduct by Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller concerning the request for a criminal investigation of telemed webcam abortions conducted by Planned Parenthood of the Heartland.
"It is clear to us that Tim Miller placed the interests of his friends and political allies at Planned Parenthood above the laws of the State of Iowa and the health and safety of women," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman, who filed the ethics complaint against Miller.
Miller will now be required to provide an answer to the Iowa Supreme Court Disciplinary Board for the allegations against him.
Troy Newman filed the complaint on November 29, 2010, alleging three causes of action:
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Conflict of interest, due to Miller's close professional and personal associations with PPH staff members.
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Hindering or impeding efforts to obtain independent criminal investigations
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Corruption, for putting his political associates and personal friends ahead of his vow to enforce the laws of the State of Iowa.
Operation Rescue conducted an investigation earlier this year of the so-called telemed abortions and discovered information that gave Newman reason to believe that PPH's telemed abortion pill scheme not only violates standards of care, but also violates the law.
Operation Rescue filed a formal complaint with the Iowa Board of Medicine in April, 2010, asking for an investigation. That investigation is on-going.
Since clinics in several Iowa counties were involved, a complaint demanding a criminal investigation of PPH's remote-controlled abortion pill scheme was filed on June 24, 2010, with the Iowa Attorney General's office, which has jurisdiction in all Iowa counties. Almost immediately, Attorney General Tom Miller began making excuses for why he could not proceed with an investigation, telling reporters that the county attorneys had jurisdiction.
Realizing that Miller would not act, Operation Rescue sent complaints to county attorneys in ten Iowa Counties known to have telemed abortion facilities. Responses were received indicating that Miller had previously alerted the county attorneys and indicated to them that investigations should be left to the Iowa Board of Medicine. This virtually shut down any hope of gaining an investigation that Miller's office could not control.
"It is unethical for the laws of Iowa to be disregarded due to political cronyism, especially when it places the health and safety of citizens in jeopardy, as is the case with Planned Parenthood's telemed abortion pill scheme," said Newman. "It was my duty to file this complaint, and pray that it will halt the subversion of justice by politics and corruption."
Read the ethics complaint narrative for additional information
Read the letters from the Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board
About Operation Rescue®
Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation and has become a strong voice for the pro-life movement in America. Operation Rescue is now headquartered in a former abortion clinic that it bought and closed in 2006. From there, Operation Rescue launches its innovative new strategies across the nation, exposing and closing abortion clinics through peaceful, legal means. Its activities are on the cutting edge of the abortion issue, taking direct action to stop abortion and ultimately restore legal personhood to the pre-born in obedience to biblical mandates.
