OR calls for Judge Tatum to recuse himself in the interest of justice.
Olathe, KS — Judge Stephen Tatum told the Kansas Department of Health and Environment today that it did not have to honor a subpoena from county prosecutors for evidence in a criminal case against Planned Parenthood.
District Attorney Phill Kline had asked the KDH&E to supply the records, or admit that the records that Kline obtained during his term as State Attorney General were true representations. The KDH&E then filed a motion to quash the subpoena, saying District Attorneys are not entitled to such evidence.
Judge Richard Anderson, who oversaw Kline’s abortion clinic investigations while he was still the attorney general, has already testified before Judge Tatum that he had strong reason to believe that those same records regarding late-term abortions done at Planned Parenthood had been falsified.
“By denying evidence to prosecutors that could confirm that Planned Parenthood falsified reports to cover up for illegal abortions, Judge Tatum has officially joined the Kansas abortion corruption scandal. We call for Judge Tatum to immediately recuse himself from the Planned Parenthood case in the interest of justice, since he cannot be trusted to rule impartially,” said Operation Rescue spokesperson Cheryl Sullenger.
Former Attorney General Paul Morrison and two top members of the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts have already resigned after their parts in abortion cover-ups came to light.
It is not believed that the quashing of the subpoena will hurt the prosecution of 107 criminal charges filed against Planned Parenthood last year, 23 of which are felonies. However, it will require lengthy questioning at the time of trial to establish a chain of custody of the records already in the possession of the DA’s office, something the KDH&E could have prevented.
“People should be aware that the records in question are not women’s medical files, but are simply reports that Planned Parenthood made to the KDH&E as mandated by the Legislature. At no time has anyone’s privacy ever been at risk,” said Sullenger. “This is just a blatant matter of preventing prosecutors from being able to properly do their jobs in order to conceal criminal conduct by abortionists. Judge Tatum should not only recuse himself, but he should face sanctions for obstructing justice.”
