Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton defended Planned Parenthood Thursday against “concerted attacks” from a pro-life group during a campaign stop in Greenville, S.C.
Clinton defending Planned Parenthood after video, saying it's "unfortunate" that the org has been the focus of such a "concerted attack."
— Lisa Lerer (@llerer) July 23, 2015
Those are Clinton’s first remarks about Planned Parenthood since the release of two undercover videos by the pro-life group Center for Medical Progress. In the videos, Planned Parenthood officials are seen negotiating the sale of fetal tissue and organs. Planned Parenthood has apologized for the insensitivity of the officials’ comments in the videos but has also mounted a campaign accusing the Center for Medical Progress of breaking the law.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has called for a congressional probe of the group. Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced on Wednesday that the Department of Justice will be investigating the matter, though she did not specify if Planned Parenthood, the Center for Medical Progress, or both would be investigated.
Clinton on Planned Parenthood: "I’m hoping that this situation would not further undermine the very important services" they provide
— Liz Kreutz (@ABCLiz) July 23, 2015
Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren provided a rough transcript of Clinton’s remarks on the video.
“I am well aware of that,” Clinton said of the videos. “I don’t have all the facts but Planned Parenthood has apologized for the insensitivity of the employee who was taped and they will continue to answer questions for Congress and others, but for more than a century Planned Parenthood has provided essential services for women.”
She continued: “Not just reproductive health services, including access to affordable family planning, but cancer screenings, for example and other health checkups and I think it is unfortunate that Planned Parenthood had been the object of such a concerted attacks for so many years and it’s really an attack against women’s rights to choose, to make the most personal, difficult decisions that any women would face based on her faith and her medical advice that she is given. So I am hoping that this situation will not further undermine the very important services that planned parenthood provides.”
Clinton has been a longtime supporter of Planned Parenthood. Last year the group awarded Clinton its highest honor, the PPFA Margaret Sanger Award, named after its founder.