By Cheryl Sullenger

San Francisco, CA — Dr. Deborah Nucatola, former Medical Director for Planned Parenthood Federation of America, took the stand in an ongoing federal trial against pro-life activists, who are defending themselves against Planned Parenthood’s accusations that they violated the Federal Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations act (RICO) when they secretly filmed evidence that Planned Parenthood was engaged in the illegal trafficking of aborted baby tissue and organs for profit.

Nucatola was the subject of the first video summary released by the Center for Medical Progress on July 14, 2015.  She was shown munching salad and sipping wine while she dispassionately discussed in graphic detail the ways she altered second-trimester abortion procedures – her specialty – to ensure that organs were intact for organ procurement companies, which paid Planned Parenthood for the aborted baby tissues.

Nucatola was supposed to be Planned Parenthood’s star witness. 

A source inside the courtroom, who wishes to remain anonymous, told Operation Rescue that Nucatola said she has been conducting on average 200 abortions per month for her entire 21-year career as an abortionist.

This means she has — so far — been responsible for the deaths of over 50,000 pre-born babies.

She reportedly told the court, “I provide abortions to 24 weeks, and beyond if needed.”

Nucatola noted that she prefers to use the [euphemistic] term “tissue donation” instead of “selling baby body parts for a profit.”

Nucatola also described how she was upset about the release of the videos, and again sobbed when relating how she and her family were “damaged” by them.

That moment may have provided a turning point for the defense.

Upon cross examination one pro-life attorney questioned Nucatola about the damages caused by the video.  Then he brought up statements she had made under oath during an earlier deposition.

In deposition, Nucatola said that the release of the videos was “no big deal” that “did not damage me.”

In addition, she had made sworn statements such as, “I did nothing wrong.” “I don’t care if these videos are released.” “There is nothing wrong with what I said.”

This completely impeached Nucatola’s testimony and destroyed her credibility.

Then came the defining moment for the pro-life defendants, which include Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue, Sandra Merritt, Albin Rhomberg, and David Daleiden.

Judge William Orrick had previously denied all requests to show any of the video taken by the Center for Medical Progress to the jury. However, yesterday, he allowed the playing of five minutes of raw, uncut video from the lunch meeting between Nucatola and the undercover pro-life journalists who posed as representatives of an organ procurement company.

The courtroom observer told Operation Rescue that tears could been seen on the faces of some members of the jury as they watched Nucatola speaking on video about liver, lungs, hearts, muscle, and calvarium (baby heads) that were harvested from the bodies of aborted babies.

“The jury was stunned. It was the first time during the three-week trial that they had seen any of the debated video,” the observer told Operation Rescue. “It was a game changer and a huge victory for the pro-life defendants.  Planned Parenthood’s star witness turned into a star witness for the defense.  It could not have been a better day.”