Says DA Foulston and AG Morrison have “conflicts of interest” due to ties to late-term abortionist George Tiller
Wichita, KS – Operation Rescue has formally demanded that District Attorney Nola Foulston and disgraced Attorney General Paul Morrison recuse themselves from any involvement in the citizen called grand jury investigation of late-term abortionist George R. Tiller, which is scheduled to convene next week. Operation Rescue is demanding that a special prosecutor be appointed to oversee the grand jury that does not have financial, political, or social ties to Tiller, as specified on the petition documents.
OR President Troy Newman has sent a letter to Foulston, Morrison, and Judge Paul Buchanan, who will oversee the grand jury, stating that Foulston and Morrison have conflicts of interest regarding Tiller. Morrison recently tendered his resignation amid a sex and corruption scandal where he was accused of attempting to influence criminal cases involving Tiller and other abortionists. Foulston interfered in previous attempts to prosecute the infamous late-term abortionist, and has deferred to Morrison in legal matters related to Tiller.
Newman’s letter states, “Any additional attempt to control the prosecution of Tiller will further erode public confidence in your prosecutorial conduct and ultimately serve as additional evidence of the distinct conflicts of interests.”
The grand jury is being asked to investigate possible illegal late-term abortions at Tiller’s abortion clinic from 2003 through 2007. Kansas law bans abortions after 22 weeks gestation unless the woman’s life or health is in “permanent and irreversible” jeopardy. Tiller is accused of committing illegal abortions for trivial reasons in violation of the law.
Tiller unsuccessfully attempted to block the grand jury in Federal Court, District Court, and at the Kansas Supreme Court. Operation Rescue filed to intervene at the Supreme Court level in the interest of insuring that the voice of the citizens who requested the grand jury be heard. All three courts ruled that the investigation must move forward.
Operation Rescue will conduct a prayer for justice outside the Sedgwick County Courthouse at 9:00 AM on January 8, 2008, when the grand jury is scheduled to convene for the first time.
Citizens who may wish to express their concerns about the appearance of corrupt influences on the grand jury investigation of Tiller may contact:
District Attorney Nola Foulston
316-660-3600
foulston@sedgwick.gov
Read Newman’s Letter to Morrison and Foulston
