Swordsmyth
06-23-2017, 02:04 PM
Judge Christopher Hite of the San Francisco Superior Court on June 21 dismissed 14 of 15 criminal counts filed against Center for Medical Progress (CMP) founder David Daleiden and his associate Sandra Merritt by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra back on March 28.
Becerra alleged that Daleiden and Merritt had invaded the privacy of staff personnel at Planned Parenthood by filming undercover videos of themselves trying to buy fetal tissue from the abortion provider. He said in a statement released with the charges:
The right to privacy is a cornerstone of California’s Constitution, and a right that is foundational in a free democratic society. We will not tolerate the criminal recording of confidential conversations.
Hite ruled that counts 1-14 — pertaining to 14 separate interviews that Daleiden and Merritt conducted — were legally insufficient. However, the court dismissed the charges with “leave to amend,” which means Becerra could present new or more specific evidence and simply refile his accusations.
The court will still consider the remaining 15th charge, against Merritt alone, for conspiring to invade privacy.
In a statement to LifeNews, attorney Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel, representing Merritt, said, “This is a huge victory to have 14 criminal counts dismissed.”
“We will now turn our attention to dismissing the final count. Sandra Merritt did nothing wrong. The complaint by the California Attorney General is unprecedented and frankly will threaten every journalist who provides valuable information to the public. This final count will also fall,” said Staver.
More at: https://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/faith-and-morals/item/26312-california-court-dismisses-charges-against-david-daleiden-who-exposed-planned-parenthood
Becerra alleged that Daleiden and Merritt had invaded the privacy of staff personnel at Planned Parenthood by filming undercover videos of themselves trying to buy fetal tissue from the abortion provider. He said in a statement released with the charges:
The right to privacy is a cornerstone of California’s Constitution, and a right that is foundational in a free democratic society. We will not tolerate the criminal recording of confidential conversations.
Hite ruled that counts 1-14 — pertaining to 14 separate interviews that Daleiden and Merritt conducted — were legally insufficient. However, the court dismissed the charges with “leave to amend,” which means Becerra could present new or more specific evidence and simply refile his accusations.
The court will still consider the remaining 15th charge, against Merritt alone, for conspiring to invade privacy.
In a statement to LifeNews, attorney Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel, representing Merritt, said, “This is a huge victory to have 14 criminal counts dismissed.”
“We will now turn our attention to dismissing the final count. Sandra Merritt did nothing wrong. The complaint by the California Attorney General is unprecedented and frankly will threaten every journalist who provides valuable information to the public. This final count will also fall,” said Staver.
More at: https://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/faith-and-morals/item/26312-california-court-dismisses-charges-against-david-daleiden-who-exposed-planned-parenthood