After a nearly decade-long legal battle, California authorities have dropped all charges against David Daleiden, founder of the Center for Medical Progress, and journalist Sandra Merritt. The pair were known for their undercover videos alleging Planned Parenthood's involvement in the sale of fetal tissue. The "no-contest" plea deal resulted in no fines or prison sentences, a significant shift from the initial 15 felony counts they faced. Daleiden, in an interview, maintained the case was politically motivated "lawfare" aimed at suppressing information about Planned Parenthood's practices regarding aborted fetal tissue.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, while acknowledging the Trump administration's pardons for individuals convicted of harming reproductive health clinics, emphasized his commitment to protecting access to abortion care. The plea agreement requires Daleiden and Merritt to avoid contact with the individuals involved in the videos and comply with all recording laws. Daleiden criticized the prosecution as a politically motivated misuse of government resources, highlighting that the conversations were recorded in public spaces.

The case originated under then-California Attorney General Kamala Harris, who initiated an investigation into Daleiden's methods following the release of the undercover footage. A Texas grand jury's indictment of Daleiden and Merritt on related charges was later dismissed. The subsequent raid on Daleiden's home in 2016 under Harris's leadership raised concerns about her ties to Planned Parenthood. Harris later became a U.S. Senator and resigned as attorney general. In 2017, under Harris's successor, Xavier Becerra, Daleiden and Merritt were charged with 15 felonies. Daleiden argued the charges were unfounded, given the recordings were made in public areas.

Planned Parenthood has consistently maintained that it only charges for transportation and storage costs related to fetal tissue donation. The released videos, however, depicted conversations that appeared to show negotiations for fetal tissue prices and discussions of procedures for obtaining it. Merritt's legal team at Liberty Counsel defended her actions, stating she exposed the "depravity" of the abortion industry. Following the release of the videos and subsequent investigations, Planned Parenthood reportedly stopped accepting reimbursements for its fetal tissue donation program.

The article also mentions President Trump's executive order aimed at halting federal funding for elective abortions, impacting organizations like Planned Parenthood that receive government funds for such services. The organization's political action fund has stated that a significant portion of their patients rely on public health programs like Medicaid and Title X. Fox News Digital reached out to both Harris and Planned Parenthood for comment.