Missouri Lawsuit: Planned Parenthood Accused in Minor Abortions

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has filed a lawsuit against Planned Parenthood, accusing the organization of assisting minors in obtaining out-of-state abortions without parental consent. The lawsuit, part of a broader effort to restrict abortion access in the state, alleges that Planned Parenthood Great Plains employees admitted to aiding minors in traveling to Kansas, where abortion laws are less restrictive, for the procedure.

The lawsuit is based on footage released by the conservative Project Veritas group, which allegedly shows Planned Parenthood employees discussing how a 13-year-old could receive an abortion in Kansas without notifying her parents. Bailey is seeking to bar Planned Parenthood from assisting minors in obtaining abortions.

In response, Planned Parenthood Great Plains has denied the allegations, stating that they do not provide transportation to any patient, regardless of age or location. The organization also criticized the Project Veritas video, calling it “heavily doctored” and filmed without the staff’s knowledge or consent.

Planned Parenthood Great Plains President Emily Wales condemned Bailey’s lawsuit, stating that it relied on evidence from fraudulent and extreme anti-abortion individuals falsely claiming to be journalists.

Missouri’s abortion laws have faced legal challenges in recent years, with the state’s Supreme Court ruling that efforts to block Medicaid reimbursements for Planned Parenthood were unconstitutional. The state has been at the forefront of efforts to restrict abortion access, with lawmakers calling for the organization to stop receiving public funding.

Missouri’s legal actions are part of a broader trend among states to restrict out-of-state abortions. Idaho passed a law last year making it illegal for an adult to help a minor obtain an abortion or abortion pills without parental consent. However, a federal judge later blocked the state from prosecuting medical providers who refer patients to get abortions out of state.

Project Veritas, known for its hidden-camera stings targeting media outlets and progressive organizations, has faced legal challenges and allegations of unlawful tactics. Last year, the group was found liable for violating wiretapping laws after an employee lied to obtain an internship with a Democratic consulting firm. The group has also faced internal turmoil, with its founder fired over alleged financial misconduct and its new CEO resigning, citing the organization’s “unsalvageable mess.”

Overall, Missouri’s lawsuit against Planned Parenthood highlights the ongoing legal battles over abortion access in the United States and the controversial tactics employed by some anti-abortion groups.