Anti-abortion activist David Daleiden indicated on Thursday that he would reject a plea deal after being arrested for creating a fake ID and attempting to buy fetal tissue during an undercover investigation of Planned Parenthood.
After Daleiden turned himself in to authorities on Thursday, lawyers revealed at a press conference that their client had refused a deal for probation on charges of tampering with government evidence and the attempted procurement of fetal tissue.
"I think we all know that every day that goes by that the Texas authorities do not prosecute Planned Parenthood for their illegal trade in baby parts, they are sending a message to the entire country," Daleiden told supporters outside the courthouse. "The state of Texas right now is open for business in baby body parts."
Daleiden's attorney compared undercover tactics used by Daleiden's anti-abortion group, the California-based Center for Medical Progress, to investigations done by the CBS news show 60 Minutes.
"If we're going to be prosecuting undercover journalists, we are sending ourselves down a very, very dark path," he said. "This is fully in the tradition, a long storied tradition, of undercover journalism."
The attorney noted that Daleiden would be rejecting the plea deal offered by prosecutors.
"What we want is an apology," he told supporters. "He deserves an apology at this point. He is innocent of those charges."
"Amen!" someone in the crowd shouted.
