Hillary Clinton Calls Secret Planned Parenthood Videos 'Disturbing'
Although Hillary Clinton has adamantly defended Planned Parenthood, she admitted Tuesday that she found the undercover sting videos purportedly showing people from the women's health group selling fetal tissue to be "disturbing."
The pro-choice nonprofit has been under fire for the last two weeks following the release of sting videos that allegedly show Planned Parenthood doctors discussing the sale of fetal body parts after abortions.
After the videos were released by a right-wing anti-abortion group, a group of GOP senators introduced legislation to strip the women's group of its federal funding. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell then fast-tracked the bill Tuesday night, which could move the bill to the floor for a vote as early as Monday.
Planned Parenthood, on the other hand, claims that the videos show their representatives engaging in a legal practice of collecting fetal tissue to be donated for medical research with a patient's consent. The group also says the representatives in the videos were discussing reimbursement for the costs incurred for donating the fetal tissue.
For the most part, Clinton and other Democrats have defended Planned Parenthood. However, the 2016 presidential candidate changed her tuned when asked about the controversial videos earlier this week.
"I have seen pictures from them and obviously find them disturbing," the Democratic presidential candidate told the New Hampshire Union Leader in a new interview on Tuesday. "Planned Parenthood is answering questions and will continue to answer questions."
The former Secretary of State also called for a national investigation to look into the practice of abortions.
"This raises not questions about Planned Parenthood so much as it raises questions about the whole process; that is, not just involving Planned Parenthood, but many institutions in our country," Clinton said, reports CNN. "And if there's going to be any kind of congressional inquiry, it should look at everything and not just one (organization)."
Clinton, however, added that she still remains an avid supporter of the organization.
"One, Planned Parenthood for more than a century has done a lot of really good work for women: cancer screenings, family planning, all kinds of health services. And this raises not questions about Planned Parenthood so much as it raises questions about the whole process, that is, not just involving Planned Parenthood, but many institutions in our country," she said, according to ABC News.
In response, the Republican National Committee slammed the Democratic frontrunner for continuing to back the group.
"Instead of condemning these horrific revelations, Clinton has stood by Planned Parenthood despite weeks of unsettling headlines," said RNC National Press Secretary Allison Moore in a statement sent to Latin Post. "Rather than lead, Hillary Clinton has once again shown herself to be someone who will do or say anything to get elected. Perhaps that's also why she has yet to spell out what limits, if any, she supports on abortion."
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