Charges dismissed against Planned Parenthood videographers

David Robert Daleiden is thanked by supports after the Harris County District Attorney's office on Tuesday dismissed all charges against anti-abortion activists who secretly videotaped Planned Parenthood officials in Houston. less David Robert Daleiden is thanked by supports after the Harris County District Attorney's office on Tuesday dismissed all charges against anti-abortion activists who secretly videotaped Planned Parenthood ... more Photo: James Nielsen/Houston Chronicle Photo: James Nielsen/Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 36 Caption Close Charges dismissed against Planned Parenthood videographers 1 / 36 Back to Gallery

The Harris County District Attorney's office on Tuesday dismissed all charges against anti-abortion activists who secretly videotaped Planned Parenthood officials in Houston.

David Robert Daleiden and Sandra Merritt were charged with tampering with a governmental record, for using a fake identification to gain access to the facility. In a surprise move before a hearing on the legitimacy of the indictment, prosecutors dismissed the charges.

Deleiden and his attorneys claimed victory for the anti-abortion movement, saying they were satisfied with the decision.

Daleiden, 27, and Sandra Merritt, 62, both of Davis, Calif., were indicted by a Harris County grand jury in January, accused of tampering with a government record for allegedly using fake driver licenses to conceal their identities while dealing with a Houston Planned Parenthood clinic.

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Daleiden also was charged with a misdemeanor count related to purchasing human organs. The pair released video footage showing them posing as representatives of a company called BioMax seeking to procure fetal tissue for research. Planned Parenthood has said the pair offered to pay $1,600 for fetal organs, but the clinic refused.

A Harris County Criminal Court at Law judge dismissed the misdemeanor count against Daleiden last month, saying the indictment was flawed.

The Houston video was one of several Daleiden released last year as part of an undercover by his group, Center for Medical Progress, purporting to show Planned Parenthood clinics across the country sold fetal tissue, a violation of federal law. The videos prompted a series of investigations by state attorneys general, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. None of those investigations have found any wrongdoing by Planned Parenthood.

An investigation into the Houston video by a Harris County grand jury cleared Planned Parenthood of any wrongdoing, but indicted Daleiden and Merritt.