A grand jury in Texas indicted two members of the anti-abortion group that leaked undercover sting videos last summer purporting to show Planned Parenthood workers selling aborted fetal tissue for profit. The jury also cleared the women's health organization of all charges of wrongdoing.

On Monday, a Houston grand jury, which was investigating accusations of criminal misconduct against Planned Parenthood, instead indicted David Daleiden, the founder of the Center for Medical Progress and his employee Sandra Merritt. Both pro-life activists have been handed felony charges of tampering with a government record, which can result in up to 20 years in prison, report Reuters. Daleiden also faces a misdemeanor count related to the purchase and sale of human organs.

Back in July, the Center for Medical Progress released undercover videos accusing the pro-choice not-for-profit of illegally selling aborted fetal tissue for profit. The videos quickly went viral, sparking a national outcry, while Republican lawmakers banded together to stop the federal government from funding Planned Parenthood.

In response, Planned Parenthood slammed the videos as "deceptively edited" and accused the conservative organization of creating a "smear campaign." The health center also defended their workers' legal right to accept money to transport donated fetal tissue to medical researchers.

Ironically, the grand jury decision to indict the pro-life advocates was a result of a probe launched last year under Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who accused Planned Parenthood of the "gruesome harvesting of baby body parts." However, no evidence was provided to back that claim.

"We were called upon to investigate allegations of criminal conduct by Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast," Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson said, according to Fox News. "As I stated at the outset of this investigation, we must go where the evidence leads us. All the evidence uncovered in the course of this investigation was presented to the grand jury. I respect their decision on this difficult case."

Following the indictment, Daleiden released a statement defending his actions under the First Amendment.

"The Center for Medical Progress uses the same undercover techniques that investigative journalists have used for decades in exercising our First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and of the press, and follows all applicable laws," Daleiden said.

On the other hand, Planned Parenthood celebrated the indictment as a legal victory.

"These anti-abortion extremists spent three years creating a fake company, creating fake identities, lying, and breaking the law. When they couldn't find any improper or illegal activity, they made it up," said Eric Ferrero, vice president of communications for Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

"These people broke the law to spread malicious lies about Planned Parenthood in order to advance their extreme anti-abortion political agenda," he added. "As the dust settles and the truth comes out, it's become totally clear that the only people who engaged in wrongdoing are the criminals behind this fraud, and we're glad they're being held accountable."

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