Eventually, Shippy said Parson believes “abortion should be legal to those who are following the law.”

The deposition, obtained by the Post-Dispatch through a Sunshine Law request, also focuses on a conference call Shippy held with state lawmakers and abortion opponents that was aimed at garnering support to close the clinic.

Hatfield asked, “Was it your main goal to shut down Planned Parenthood Reproductive Health Services?”

“As a member of the pro-life community, I, yeah. I believe that shutting down Planned Parenthood is, you know, a good thing to protect the health and safety of women,” Shippy said.

In testimony Tuesday, Williams said talks between Planned Parenthood and the state’s Department of Health and Senior Services could lead to the facility getting its license restored. He blamed the current impasse on a lack of communication.

“Our role is really to focus on patient safety,” said Williams, who has overseen the state health department since 2017.

He again said he is not attempting to ban abortion.

“Abortion, if carefully regulated … is safe,” Williams said.