Documents show no jars of urine seized during abortion debate

Doug Stanglin | USA TODAY

Documents released by the Texas Department of Public Safety show that, contrary to statements at the time, troopers seized no jars or urine or feces from visitors to the state capitol in Austin on the day of heated debate on a controversial abortion bill.

On July 12, the DPS had issued a statement saying it had received information that individuals planned to use a variety of items or props to disrupt legislative proceedings at the capitol.

The statement said troopers had seized 18 bottles that were "suspected" of containing urine, and one bottle "suspected" of containing urine.

The Texas Tribune reports that the documents, released to several media outlets on Monday, also contained an email from DPS director Steve McCraw in which he wrote that he was "tired of reading that we made this stuff up."

"Let's get the photos we have to members and the media,"McCraw wrote. "Does anyone realistically believe we would fabricate evidence to support a political agenda. Amazing."

According to the Tribune, the documents show that on the morning of the debate, one DPS analyst sent an email to other DPS employees about rumors that abortion rights activists would "be taking off their clothes, urinating, and defecating in the Senate gallery."

The debate in July marked the second round of a fierce legislative battle over the restrictive abortion bill. The first attempt by the Republican-dominated legislature to pass the bill failed in June because of an 11-hour filibuster by State Sen. Wendy Davis, a Democrat.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry then called for another special session to take up the bill again, which was passed. Both sides in the dispute rallied their forces to be on hand for the session.