U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Tuesday she has not personally reviewed the undercover Planned Parenthood videos on which felony allegations against the non-profit turn.
Lynch testified at a House oversight hearing Tuesday she is aware of news reports about the videos released by The Center for Medical Progress and that the Justice Department has received numerous requests and referrals from Congress on the matter, but she has not reviewed the videos.
“Have you personally reviewed any of the videos released by the Center for Medical Progress?” Republican Rep. Trent Franks asked Lynch. “If so, was there anything in those videos that you found disturbing?”
“Congressman, I have not undertaken a review of the videos,” Lynch replied. “I am, of course, aware of the news reports about them. And as I indicated, all of the information that has been received by the Department is currently under review, so I don’t have any further comment at this time.”
Top Planned Parenthood doctors talk frankly about some clinic’s practice of dismembering fetuses for the sake of distribution for medical research in the videos. (RELATED: 9 Key Points From First Nine Planned Parenthood Videos)
CMP alleges Planned Parenthood is illegally profiting from the practice — which, if true, would be a felony — and that Planned Parenthood doctors are illegally changing how they perform abortions, also a felony, in order to obtain desirable tissue. The House is investigating, and congressional Republicans are continuing efforts to defund the group.
“Is the Department of Justice currently investigating Planned Parenthood based on the footage released by the Center for Medical Progress?” Franks asked Lynch. “And if so what’s the status of that investigation, and if not, why not?”
“We have received a number of requests for information as well as Congressional requests and referrals on this matter,” Lynch replied. “Because we are still reviewing it, I am not able to comment on the nature or status of that at this time.”
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