A raid ordered by then-California Attorney General Kamala Harris has resurfaced, provoking intense debate and public scrutiny.
On April 5, 2016, Harris ordered a raid on pro-life activist David Daleiden’s home to seize undercover footage exposing Planned Parenthood officials discussing the sale of body parts and organs of aborted babies, as the Daily Wire reports.
Daleiden, a pro-life activist, experienced a heavily armed raid at his Southern California home in the spring of 2016. The raid, ordered by Harris, aimed to confiscate undercover footage that Daleiden had gathered, which he claimed showed Planned Parenthood officials discussing the sale of fetal tissues and organs.
The raid was carried out by a team from the California Department of Justice. This team, which included 11 armed men and a canine unit, arrived in a white, windowless van. For four hours, they searched Daleiden’s apartment, eventually seizing about half of the footage he had obtained.
Daleiden described the raid as a harrowing experience, calling the team a “dystopian kind of clown car.” He recalled five large officers rummaging through his apartment, including behind religious statues and within his investigative files. According to Daleiden, invoices for aborted baby parts were set aside but not seized.
The raid happened just two weeks after Harris met with officials from Planned Parenthood. During that meeting, the organization requested the seizure of computers used for the undercover videos. Daleiden alleged that Harris had weaponized her office to protect Planned Parenthood, accusing her of utilizing an obscure video recording law to suppress evidence that would be damaging to the organization.
The aftermath of the raid saw Daleiden and fellow investigator Sandra Merritt facing 15 felony charges for videotaping "confidential" communications, brought by Harris's successor, Xavier Becerra. Daleiden has pointed out that half of these charges have been dismissed, though the litigation continues.
Daleiden has questioned whether Harris ever watched the videos or knew their contents before ordering their seizure. He accused her of unprecedented misuse of her office's power to suppress free speech and protect her political backers.
One of Daleiden's most pointed criticisms centered around the investigators' actions. Despite seizing the tapes, the investigators allegedly did not watch them. Instead, they supposedly validated a list provided by Planned Parenthood to identify targets for legal action.
Following the raid, a federal judge in San Francisco placed an injunction on Daleiden, barring him from publishing the seized footage. Despite this, some of the footage has since been released through the efforts of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) via congressional subpoena.
Daleiden’s experience during the raid conveyed a scene of disorder and disruption. He described the investigators “overturning everything” and creating a “huge mess” in his apartment. He likened the event to a “hurricane Kamala” affecting his living space.
Critics like Daleiden argue that the raid was a clear example of governmental overreach and bias, underscoring the contentious relationship between law enforcement and anti-abortion activists. The ongoing legal battles and public discourse continue to highlight these deep divisions.
As the controversy persists, it raises questions about the balance between legal enforcement and political influence. Daleiden maintains that the raid was a deliberate attempt by Kamala Harris to shield Planned Parenthood from damaging revelations.
