Boehner: ‘I’d vomit’ talking about Planned Parenthood video

Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) called a controversial Planned Parenthood video “disgusting” and said he would “vomit” if he talked about it. 

The secretly recorded viral video shows a Planned Parenthood executive detailing how the livers, lungs and hearts of fetuses are preserved during abortions for medical research. 

At a press conference Thursday, Boehner was asked about the explanation that donating fetal tissue, with reimbursement, is allowable and common under the law. 

“If you saw the video, it certainly didn’t strike me that way,” Boehner said. “I could talk about the video but I think I’d vomit trying to talk about it. It’s disgusting.”

Boehner on Wednesday asked the relevant congressional committees to begin investigating the video and called on President Obama to denounce Planned Parenthood’s practices.

Asked what kind of accountability he wanted for Planned Parenthood, Boehner said he would let the congressional investigation take place first. 

“Once they have them we’ll decide what’s the proper course of action,” he said. 

Planned Parenthood says the footage in the video is heavily edited and “grossly mischaracterizes” the organization’s practice of donating fetal tissue to research.

Some Democrats are defending Planned Parenthood.

“They’ve been attacking Planned Parenthood for years,” said Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), another prominent abortion rights supporter. “They’ve been calling for investigations for years.”

Boehner promised a thorough investigation. 

“We’re going to get to the bottom of this and protect the values that we hold dear,” Boehner said.