Operation Rescue suspects DA’s attempt to advise grand jury is another effort to cover up for Tiller

UPDATE: The grand jury has been ordered to convene on October 30, 2007.

Wichita, KS — Overruling a motion by attorneys for abortionist George R. Tiller, Judge Paul Buchanan said today that a grand jury will be seated to investigate Tiller on a number of charges, including illegal late-term abortions that took place over the last five years. Citizens, led by Kansans for Life, submitted over twice the number of signatures required to compel the county to convene the grand jury investigation.
Judge Buchanan did not indicate the date on which the grand jury would be seated.
Tiller earlier lost a similar request in Federal Court. In the meantime, he continues to face 19 criminal charges of illegal abortions committed in 2003 for using a second physician that was financially affiliated with him in violation of state law.
The petition specifically states that District Attorney Nola Foulston and anyone associated with her should not be allowed to participate in this grand jury investigation because of her personal friendship with Tiller and suspicions that she may have interfered with a grand jury last year that investigated the death of 19-year old Christin Gilbert. Operation Rescue learned that the Gilbert grand jury failed to indict Tiller on four counts by only one vote and that the District Attorney’s office may have interfered with the gathering of important information during that investigation.
However, Assistant District Attorney Ann Swegle, who personally directed the Gilbert grand jury, was in court today to argue that the District Attorney’s office should be allowed to advise the new grand jury.
“We are pleased that Judge Buchanan chose today to uphold the right of the citizens to petition the government through the grand jury process,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “But the intervention of the District Attorney’s office, especially as represented by Swegle, is nothing more than another attempt to subvert justice and protect Tiller. Swegle and Foulston’s involvement would cast a cloud of suspicion over the grand jury process. The public is tired of apparent corruption and cover-up when it comes to Tiller. Let’s have an independent prosecutor so everyone can rest assured that justice is being served.”