Pro-life Activists Fight to Keep Indicted Filmmaker Out of Prison - Paul Strand CBN News

Pro-life Activists Fight to Keep Indicted Filmmaker Out of Prison

02-04-2016

CBN NEWS Paul Strand

WASHINGTON -- Supporters rallied outside the Harris County courthouse as indicted pro-life activist David Daleiden rejected a probation deal and announced plans to take on the district attorney in court next month.

Daleiden faces a second degree felony charge that could land him in prison for 20 years for using fake identifications to uncover Planned Parenthood's harvesting of unborn baby parts.

Click here to watch CBN Reporter Paul Strand's earlier report.

Fellow investigator Sandra Merritt turned herself into the court system Wednesday and was offered probation for her role in the covert investigation.

Daleiden rejected the disctrict attorney's deal and will instead go before the court March 28. His attorneys say the only thing they will accept from Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson is an apology.

"This D.A.'s office needs to apologize to David for dragging him down here and making him have to defend himself when the actual wrongdoers are not here today," they said.

"David is a modern-day hero. He has exposed something that has been occurring in abortion clinics all across this country and the fact that he is here today is a miscarriage of justice," they said. "And we believe once this case is done it will be dismissed, it will be thrown out, and we are hopeful that this D.A. will go after the real wrongdoer: Planned Parenthood."

Daleiden's defense attorneys argued that his actions were "fully within the tradition of undercover journalism" and the indictment was really intended to scare modern-day journalist from exposing the truth.

The attorney said additional incriminating information about the abortion provider will be presented to the district attorney.

Meanwhile, the courthouse was flooded with pro-life advocates who joined Daleiden at a press conference earlier Thursday. 

Pro-life activist Rev. Patrick Mahoney condemned Anderson for "using her office for a politically motivated agenda."

"This is the only grand jury in America where someone was indicted for a fake drivers license. But its not a fake drivers license because their intent as journalists was to get to the truth," Mahoney said. "The fact that Devon Anderson has gone after them is really an embarrassment to this county."

Despite the criminal charges against Daleiden and Merritt, Mahoney said their efforts resulted in "the number one investigative journalism story in 2015."

"From their efforts over 12 states began their investigations of Planned Parenthood themselves. Numerous states voted to defund Planned Parenthood because of what David Deleiden and Sandra Merritt did," Mahoney explained.

"For the first time in history a bill went to a sitting president of the Untied States to defund Planned Parenthood. That's never happened in history before. All based on the work that David and Sandra did. This has lead to the most major expose of Planned Parenthood," he continued.

At the press conference, Daleiden also expressed his immense gratitude for the support and prayers he and Merritt recieved.

"I think we all know that every day that goes by the Texas authorities do not prosecute Planned Parenthood for their illegal trade of baby parts, they are sending a message to the entire country that the state of Texas is open right now for the sale of baby body parts," he said.

"But by your presence today you are all sending an equally strong message, if not stronger message, that the children of Texas and the children of Houston's body parts are not for sale," he said.

Mahoney showed supporters the 110,000 signatures from petitioners who demand the charges be dropped against two activists.

The signatures will be presented to Anderson. If she does not drop the charges, Mahoney said they will file charges against her for "ethical violations."

"If she still insists... we will do everything we can in our power to ensure that Houston has a new district attorney that respects justice and jails criminals and not citizen journalists," he concluded.

A prayer vigil for Daleiden and Merritt and their attorneys also followed the press conference as they continue to face the history-making legal battle.

President Obama Betrays Pastor Saeed Abedini—and Christian Freedom—for Muslim Nation's Sake

8/18/2015 PATRICK MAHONEY/CHRISTIAN NEWSWIRE  charisma news

Will President Obama continue to ignore persecuted Christians after this campaign? (Reuters)

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Activists to travel to Martha's Vineyard and Boston to challenge President Obama and Secretary Kerry to work for the immediate release of Pastor Saeed.

The project is part of the #orangejumpsuit campaign, which encourages people to stand in solidarity with the persecuted church worldwide.

The campaign calls for Congress not to support any Iranian nuclear deal while Pastor Saeed is imprisoned.

On Thursday, August 20, the #organgejumpsuit campaign will be traveling to Martha's Vineyard in an attempt to speak to President Obama about securing the immediate release of Pastor Saeed.

Some of the members of the group will be wearing orange prison jumpsuits with Pastor Saeed's name on it.

Pastor Saeed is an Iranian-born American citizen who was given an eight-year prison sentence in Iran for his Christian faith.

Rev. Patrick Mahoney, director of the Washington, D.C.-based Christian Defense Coalition and founder of the #orangejumpsuit campaign, states;

"When the Obama administration negotiated the Iranian nuclear deal, they tragically failed to secure the release of Pastor Saeed and three other American citizens imprisoned in that country. While Congress and the American public debate the merits of this agreement with Iran, there is no debate that President Obama failed to stand for religious freedom and human rights by leaving Pastor Saeed to be brutalized every day for his Christian faith.

"We encourage President Obama and Secretary Kerry to embrace the universal principles of freedom of religion and speech and secure the immediate release of Pastor Saeed. We would also encourage the members of Congress not to support any deal with Iran while an American pastor is being brutalized in that country for his Christian faith.

"Sadly, President Obama missed a historic teaching moment when his administration sat face to face with Iranian officials for the first time in over 30 years and failed to negotiate the release of Pastor Saeed. What a powerful message would have been delivered to the Iranian government concerning religious freedom and human rights, if the president made it clear that no nuclear deal would move forward while an American pastor was being persecuted for his faith."

#Orangejumpsuit also wants to remind President Obama that while he enjoys a beautiful family vacation with the First Lady and their two children, Pastor Saeed is being brutalized in a harsh prison cell separated from his wife and two children.

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'We Can't Forget' Pastor Saeed's 1,000 Days in Prison

By Abigail Robertson

CBN News Reporter

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

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Pastor Saeed Abedini has been imprisoned in Iran for his Christian faith for 1,000 days, June 23.

To commemorate the day, supporters of the imprisoned pastor gathered in Washington, D.C., to host a prayer vigil and to place a thousand flowers in front of the Capitol. The tribute is in honor of Saeed and other Christians around the world being persecuted for their faith.

"We can't forget, we need to pray and to remember and that's what we're doing here," Rev. Robert Schenck, minister to top government officials in D.C., said.

A thousand days have gone by since Saeed, an Iranian American, has been separated from his wife and two children. During the last few months, multiple reports have surfaced claiming Saeed is being brutally assualted by fellow inmates in prison.

Rev. Patrick Mahoney, lead pastor at Church on the Hill, emphasized the urgency for Saeed to be released before a nuclear deal is signed with Iran.

"We cannot move forward with an Iranian nuclear deal while Pastor Saeed sits in prison as well as three other Americans," he said.

Mahoney also called upon Christians around the world to come together in prayer.

"Pray for Saeed and his family, pray for safety for our brothers and sisters around the world, and also pray for our elected officials and President Obama that they would not be silent," Mahoney urged. "We believe that as Christians pray around the world, we can see Pastor Saeed's release."