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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAfter release of covert videos, judge might hold anti abortion activist in contempt
A federal judge is considering whether to penalize an antiabortion activist for Internet postings that included covertly recorded videos and the names of abortion providers that were supposed to be barred from public release.
District Judge William H. Orrick of San Francisco late Thursday directed David Daleiden and his attorneys to take down at least 11 names and several hours of video secretly filmed at two National Abortion Federation conferences, which they had posted online this week. Orrick issued an injunction last year barring the release of the footage and names, but an attorney defending Daleiden in a separate criminal case posted the material on his website, arguing that it had become part of the public record.
Daleiden appears to have complied with the order; the videos were removed from YouTube on Thursday night and the names struck from his attorneys website. Orrick also set a June 14 hearing to determine whether to hold Daleiden in contempt for what appeared to be an intentional violation of the injunction.
It is the latest twist in a long-running saga involving Daleiden, who made headlines two years ago for secretly recording conversations with abortion providers in an attempt to prove that Planned Parenthood, the womens health organization, illegally sells fetal tissue for profit.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/after-release-of-covert-videos-with-graphic-descriptions-of-abortions-judge-might-hold-activist-in-contempt/ar-BBByM3n?li=BBnbcA1&ocid=edgsp
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This apparent defiance of court orders may end up landing Daleiden and his criminal attorneys in contempt of both state and federal court, potentially resulting in fines and jail time and disbarment for the lawyers.
For violating the order, NAFs lawyers have asked Orrick to refer Daleiden, Ferreira and Cooley to the US Attorneys Office for investigation and potential prosecution for criminal contempt of court, to refer both criminal defense lawyers to the California Bar for potential disbarment, and to require them to pay NAF $17,103.26 to reimburse them for the amount they say the spent on security and other expenses because of the footage.
The California Attorney Generals office has also requested a disbarment investigation and that Daleiden and his criminal attorneys be held in contempt of state court for violating the seal on the names of complainants. The maximum sentence for contempt is $1,000 and six months jail time.
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