Pro-Life Leaders Ask For Federal Investigation Into Tiller Case

Washington, DC — Two national pro-life leaders have met with members of the Kansas Congressional delegation and the Department of Justice to ask for a federal investigation into why Kansas officials are not prosecuting late-term abortionist George R. Tiller on thirty criminal charges brought by the former Kansas Attorney General.
Rev. Pat Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition of Washington, DC and Dr. Gary Cass, Executive Director of Coral Ridge Ministries’ Center For Reclaiming America announced yesterday that they personally met with Sen. Sam Brownback, Rep. Todd Tiahart, and the staff of Sen. Pat Roberts to ask for a federal inquiry into the lack of willingness by certain Kansas officials to uphold Kansas laws. The leaders expressed concern that by not enforcing the abortion laws, women’s civil rights have been placed “at serious risk and jeopardy.”
Tiller was charged in December with thirty counts related to illegal late-term abortions by then Attorney General Phill Kline. The charges were dismissed the following day after District Attorney Nola Foulston complained to Judge Paul Clark that the Attorney General’s office has no authority to file criminal charges in District Court without her expressed permission. Judge Clark did not read the charges or review the evidence before dismissing the case.
The merits of the case have never been questioned. Two other judges ruled that, based on the evidence submitted by Kline, there was probable cause to believe that Tiller had committed the crimes with which he was charged.
“We are very grateful for the efforts of Rev. Mahoney and Dr. Cass in pressing forward with the request for a federal investigation, and we especially appreciate members of the Kansas Congressional Delegation taking the time to discuss this important issue with them,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “This is literally a matter of life and death.”
“We are convinced, based on public records and our own investigations, that the State has a strong and compelling case that Tiller has indeed committed illegal abortions on viable babies in violation of Kansas law,” said Newman.
“Innocent lives continue to be at risk, along with the civil rights of women,” said Newman. “Since local authorities refuse to enforce the law, federal intervention is necessary to preserve the rule of law and the lives of innocent children, which the law was enacted to protect.”
[Press Release from the Christian Defense Coalition is reprinted below.]
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National Pro-Life Leaders Meet With KS Congressional Delegation to Ask for a Federal Investigation into Civil Rights Violations Regarding Abortionist George R. Tiller
Contact: Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Director, Christian Defense Coalition, 540-538-4741
WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 /Christian Newswire/ — Rev. Patrick Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition and Dr. Gary Cass of Coral Ridge Ministries’ Reclaiming America for Christ personally met this week with Kansas Senator Sam Brownback, Rep. Todd Tiahart, and the staff of Sen. Pat Roberts to ask for a federal investigation into possible civil rights violations involving late-term abortionist George R. Tiller of Wichita, Kansas.
Sedgwick County District Attorney Nola Foulston has refused to look into the 30 criminal charges against Tiller related to illegal late-term abortions filed by former Attorney General Phill Kline. Rev. Mahoney and Dr. Cass expressed concern that this apparent unwillingness to follow through with the case puts the civil rights of women at serious risk and jeopardy. Foulston persuaded a judge to dismiss the charges on jurisdictional grounds less than 24 hours after they were filed. The merits of the case have never been challenged.
“We have met with members of the Kansas Congressional delegation and have gone to the Department of Justice because we are seriously concerned that there may be massive violations of the civil rights of women occurring in Kansas,” said Rev. Pat Mahoney.
“District Attorney Foulston’s unwillingness to prosecute Tiller, in spite of overwhelming evidence that probable cause exists, is reminiscent of southern prosecutors who turned their backs on the civil rights violations of African Americans during the 1940s and 50s,” said Rev. Mahoney. “Women who travel from all over the country to use the services of George Tiller need to know that if they experience unlawful treatment, their civil rights will be upheld.”
“We have exhausted all state remedies in this case,” said Dr. Gary Cass. “Political campaign documents have established that the parties in this case are interrelated through a series of campaign contributions. Because of this, the unwillingness of the District Attorney and new Attorney General to act in this matter creates a real appearance of impropriety. For the sake of justice and the protection of women, there appears no other option but to ask for federal intervention.”
All parties who met with Rev. Mahoney and Dr. Cass promised to look into their concerns.