A Further Note On the Houston Grand Jury

I was wrong.  As turns out, the reported legal basis for the indictment of two people for videotaping Planned Parenthood persons was NOT based on their use of undercover/covert recording.

According to a New York Times article here, the core matter is the alleged making fake government documents is the issue:

“Mr. Daleiden and Sandra S. Merritt, 62, were indicted on felony charges of tampering with a governmental record with the intent to defraud — specifically, falsifying California driver’s licenses to pose as biotechnology representatives and infiltrate Planned Parenthood centers and research conferences. Mr. Daleiden was also charged with a misdemeanor related to trying to buy human organs.”

As with all grand jury proceedings, we hasten to add that this only means a “true bill” has been returned by the grand jury. 

Several readers took issue with my discussing possible points of law that might have motivated the grand jury. 

Since it’s being reported as falsifying a government document is involved, we are seeing a contradiction develop in the right/left or conservative/liberal cacophony:

Conservatives will excuse falsifying a document in support of covert videotaping.  But they won’t support falsifying of documents by illegals.

Liberals, on the other hand will not excuse falsification of a driver’s license.  But, if you want to bring in untold numbers of Syrians – leapfrogging them un-vetted ahead of foreigners who have been patiently waiting in line for years to enter America legally, that’s a different animal. 

I’m sitting back with yet another cup of coffee this morning amazed at the contradictory nature of American politics and the country’s evolving ability to unevenly apply law, depending on political winds. 

Such divisiveness is what is spawning the Divided States of America.