Planned Parenthood boss at combative Congressional hearing: Fetal tissue claims are 'outrageous' and 'categorically untrue'


Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards, under fire over secretly recorded videos that purport to show her organization selling tissue from aborted fetuses, used her testimony before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Tuesday to dispute charges that the women's health organization profits from selling fetal tissue. "Planned Parenthood policies not only comply with, but indeed go beyond the requirements of law," she said, adding that Republican accusations were "outrageous" as well as "offensive and categorically untrue."
Richards also offered an accusation of her own — that the "deceptively edited" videos, which appear to show Planned Parenthood doctors selling fetal tissue, were a "smear campaign…based on efforts by our opponents to entrap our doctors and clinicians into breaking the law — and once again our opponents failed."
Republicans hit back by saying Planned Parenthood didn't need government funding. "As far as I can tell, this is an organization that doesn't need federal subsidies," Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz said. Ever since the videos started being released in July, conservatives have demanded that the federal government defund Planned Parenthood — a fight that has led to threats of a possible government shutdown. Planned Parenthood receives a third of its annual revenue from federal programs, which amounts to about $450 million.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Critics push back as the government goes after Job Corps
The Explainer For at-risk teens, the program has been a lifeline
-
5 horror movies to sweat out this summer
The Week Recommends A sequel, a reboot and a follow up from the director of 'Barbarian' highlight the upcoming scary movie slate
-
Bryan Burrough's 6 favorite books about Old West gunfighters
Feature The Texas-raised author recommends works by T.J. Stiles, John Boessenecker, and more
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read