Senate Committee renews its recommendation to investigate Planned Parenthood for sale of aborted baby parts

The Senate Judiciary Committee has renewed its recommendation to investigate Planned Parenthood over its alleged involvement in the trafficking of fetal body parts.

Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) made the first referral for the criminal investigation of Planned Parenthood to the DOJ and FBI in December 2016.

"I don't take lightly making a criminal referral," Grassley said at the time. "But, the seeming disregard for the law by these entities has been fueled by decades of utter failure by the Justice Department to enforce it," he added.

Grassley expressed his concern that the sales of baby body parts will likely continue unless everyone involved renews their commitment to stop the practice.

After reviewing more than 20,000 Planned Parenthood documents, the committee concluded that the abortion organization was turning a blind eye to its affiliates that are engaging in the sales of fetal body parts. According to Life News, the committee also found that the DOJ had failed to enforce the law that bans the buying and selling of tissue.

Grassley noted that his initial request was made during the transition period when President Barack Obama was still in office. He has renewed the request to investigate Planned Parenthood and has asked the new agencies to provide written confirmation by May 8.

The referrals came after the Center for Medical Progress (CMP) released a series of undercover videos purporting to show Planned Parenthood officials discussing the sale of aborted baby body parts. However, the committee has maintained that the videos played no part in the investigation into the abortion provider.

"While the impetus for the investigation was the release of a series of videos regarding transfers of fetal tissue by the Center for Medical Progress, the committee's analysis and findings are based strictly on the documents obtained independently from tissue procurement companies and Planned Parenthood," a press release stated at the time.

In late March, California's new Attorney General Xavier Becerra filed felony charges against CMP project lead David Daleiden and his associate Sandra Merritt for the undercover videos. The two pro-life activists were charged with 14 counts of illegally recording conversations without consent and one count of conspiracy.

In late April, CMP released another video showing a Planned Parenthood executive negotiating with an undercover journalist over the price of fetal body parts.