Speculation swirls concerning fate of abortion clinic records case
Lenexa, KS — In an ironic twist, ousted Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline will swap jobs with the man who defeated him in November, and will become Johnson County’s next District Attorney. With the appointment comes speculation about Kline’s controversial investigation into two Kansas abortion clinics — an investigation that many believe cost Kline his job as Attorney General.
Johnson County DA Paul Morrison switched his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat to run against Kline, but because he was elected to that position as a Republican, it fell to the Republican Party to appoint his successor.
During the heavily attended Republican meeting held Monday evening, 611 votes were cast. Kline received 316 votes, 21 more than he needed to win.
It is unclear what impact this job-swap will have on Kline’s investigation of Planned Parenthood and late-term abortionist George R. Tiller for the concealment of child rape and illegal late-term abortions. Since the Planned Parenthood office in question is in Johnson County, some speculate that Kline could continue his investigation as District Attorney.
Kline could also file charges against Tiller and Planned Parenthood before he leaves the office of Attorney General on January 8, 2007, forcing Morrison’s hand on his promise to stop all abortion investigations, a promise that Morrison has hedged on since his election.
“We congratulate General Kline on his new appointment and wish him the best,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman.
“And now the chess game begins,” said Newman. “It will be interesting to see how the abortion investigation plays out. But one thing is for sure. Tiller and his cronies celebrated a little too early on election night. This matter is far from over.”