Overview

• David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt, who released undercover videos in 2015 alleging fetal tissue sales by Planned Parenthood, settled with a no-contest plea to a single misdemeanor charge.
• The case, initiated in 2016 by then-California Attorney General Kamala Harris, originally included 15 felony charges, many of which were later dismissed.
• Critics, including Daleiden's defense team, called the prosecution a politically motivated attack on investigative journalism, citing Harris's ties to abortion organizations.
• California Attorney General Rob Bonta framed the plea deal as a victory for reproductive healthcare rights, emphasizing the state's commitment to protecting access to abortion services.
• Planned Parenthood has denied any wrongdoing, claiming the videos were misleadingly edited, though the organization changed its tissue donation reimbursement policy after the footage's release.