Washington, DC – As Senate hearings are underway this morning to consider the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court, Operation Rescue releases the following statement, attributable to Troy Newman:

“We are blessed to live in a nation that is founded on the rule of law with protection for certain inalienable rights, including the precious right to life. Without this right, the rest of our laws are meaningless.

“Unfortunately, in our country today, that right is routinely ignored while vulnerable human beings in the earliest stages of their existence are deprived daily of their right to life through abortion with the consent of a 1973 Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade, that many now agree was wrongly decided.

“Judge Sotomayor has shown disregard for the lives of these individuals with her personal support for abortion. She has also shown a disturbing propensity for allowing her personal beliefs to impact her legal decisions. It is clear that she would further the injustice of abortion by upholding the errant Roe decision and would continue to deprive the most vulnerable among us of their right to life.

“This makes her unfit to serve on our nation’s highest court.

“The latest polls show that the majority of Americans now identify themselves as “pro-life” and especially oppose abortions done after the first trimester of pregnancy. Judge Sotomayor’s views on abortion and rule of law are out of step with the American people and out of step with common decency and compassion that would abhor the violence of abortion and work instead to build a society where killing babies for convenience is considered the unthinkable evil that it truly is.

“For this reason, Operation Rescue opposes the confirmation of Judge Sotomayor, and will encourage the new pro-life majority of the American people to immediately contact their Senators to voice their opposition to this nominee as well.”

Click here to contact your Senator now!

Lincoln, NE – A coalition of four pro-life groups have sent a letter to Nebraska Attorney General Jon Buning asking him to open a “comprehensive” investigation into late-term abortionist LeRoy Carhart and his Bellevue abortion clinic.

Signing the letter were Troy Newman of Operation Rescue headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, Rev. Pat Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition in Washington, DC, Larry Donlan of Rescue the Heartland in Omaha, Nebraska, and Ann Bowen of Nebraskans United for Life, also of Omaha.

The group expressed concerns about the legality of certain aspects of Carhart’s abortion business as well concerns about the condition of Carhart’s run-down abortion clinic that was damaged by an accidental fire earlier this year.

Carhart has indicated that he wants to begin doing risky third trimester abortions at his Bellevue clinic.

“There is concern that this decision will create an unacceptable safety risk to women,” the group stated in their letter dated July 6, 2009.

“The safety of the public is our paramount concern, thus we are requesting the most comprehensive investigation of Carhart and his Nebraska abortion business as possible from the Attorney General’s office, and that your investigation not be limited solely to the concerns listed in this letter. Women’s lives and future health literally depend on it.”

Along with the letter, the groups filed a packet of documents, including information about incidents of botched abortions involving Carhart that required emergency transport to the hospitalalong with photos of the ambulances involved in those incidents. Also included were photos of dilapidated conditions at his abortion clinic, a complaint filed in Kansas about Carhart’s part in the third-trimester abortion death of Christin Gilbert, and several news stories that raise questions about the safety and legality of Carhart’s abortion operation.

Read the letter

Operation Rescue declares abortionist Hodari a “Public Menace” and demands meaningful discipline for his reckless conduct.

Detroit, MI – Abortionist Alberto Hodari has been fined $10,000 by the State of Michigan for the 2003 abortion death of Regina Johnson. The consent order, which recently became public, was issued on March 4, 2009, over five years after Ms. Johnson’s death.

“Now we know what a woman’s life is worth in the State of Michigan once she walks into an abortion clinic,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “This paltry fine has reduced Ms. Johnson’s life to that of chattel. Animals are bought and sold for more than this.”

In exchange for the consent agreement, counts of negligence and incompetence against Hodari were dismissed, leaving only the charge that his conduct constituted a “lack of good moral character.”

“Hodari was given a slap on the wrist for his part in Regina Johnson’s death, even though he has been involved in the deaths of at least three additional women since 2004,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “The Board’s finding that his conduct lacks ‘good moral character’ is a gross understatement. The man is a public menace. ”

Hodari has had other problems with the law. Citizens for a Pro-Life Society discovered illegally dumped private medical records in open dumpsters behind several of Hodari’s Detroit-area abortion clinics. He was charged with 12 counts of illegal record dumping, but another agreement allowed him to plead “no contest” to a single count, for which he remains on probation.

More shocking was the discovery of the bodies of aborted babies that had been illegally dumped in the same trash receptacles. Hodari was never charged with any crime related to the dumping of human remains. The babies were later given a proper burial.

One of Hodari’s former patients came forward in February, 2009, and told of her traumatic forced abortion when she was 16-years old. She has since filed a formal complaint against Hodari with the health board in Michigan.

But Hodari appears to be so confident that he is above the law that he has given interviews and speeches bragging about his appalling abortion practices. He says that he believes abortionists have a “license to lie.”

“In addition to his part in four abortion deaths, Hodari has openly admitted that he purposely places women’s lives and health at risk. The fact that he is still allowed to continue his reckless behavior is inexcusable,” said Newman. “The Health Department’s coddling of Hodari completely unacceptable. We plan to formally demand that they take meaningful disciplinary action before he kills anyone else.”

DOCUMENTS: Complaint, Consent Order

Operation Rescue calls on FL Medical Board to convert the suspension into a permanent revocation

Talahassee, FL — Late-term abortionist James Pendergraft has lost his appeal of the suspension of his medical license for committing illegal third-trimester abortions. The suspension issued by the Florida Medical Board remains valid and in effect.

In an opinion filed yesterday, the Florida District Court of Appeals rejected all of Pendergraft’s arguments and stated that they “found no reversible error” in the Board’s suspension order.

The opinion further stated:

• “Dr. Pendergraft violated sections 456.072(1)(k) and 458.331(1)(g) when he performed a third trimester abortion in his clinic, which is not a hospital.”…
• “violated section 390.0111(1)(a)… which prohibits third trimester abortions unless two physicians certify in writing to the fact that, to a reasonable degree of medical probability, the termination of the pregnancy is necessary to save the life or preserve the health of the pregnant woman.”
• [violated]“section 390.0111(1)(b)… because he did not certify in writing “to the medical necessity for legitimate emergency medical procedures for termination of pregnancy in the third trimester, and another physician is not available for
consultation.”
• “the [Administrative Law Judge] found that there was clear and convincing evidence that Dr. Pendergraft committed medical malpractice.”

Pendergraft has a long history of violations and problems with the law. In 2006, Pendergraft’s license was suspended for similar infractions. In 2001, Pendergraft was convicted of extortion and spent 46 months in prison.

“Like so many abortionists, Pendergraft continues to act as if he is above the law. That makes him a danger to the public,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “We call on the Florida Medical Board to convert the suspension into a permanent revocation, and continue to pray that Pendergraft’s five Florida abortion mills will permanently close.”

Read the opinion issued by the Court of Appeals.

[Special thanks to Jillstanek.com for breaking this story.]