Activist behind Planned Parenthood videos surrenders to authorities

David Daleiden, one of two anti-abortion activists indicted after the release of a series of undercover videos purporting to document Planned Parenthood’s sale of fetal organs, turned himself in to Texas authorities on Thursday morning.

{mosads}Daleiden told reporters after posting a $3,000 bond at the Harris County courthouse that he is grateful for the backing of his supporters.

His attorneys maintained Daleiden’s innocence, casting the actions of their client as no different from investigative journalists and describing the case as a “miscarriage of justice.”

Daleiden and a group of abortion opponents were also slated to deliver more than 100,000 signatures to the district attorney calling for the charges against Daleiden and parter Sandra Merritt to be dropped.

Daleiden and Merritt were indicted last month on charges of tampering with government records. Daleiden was also charged on a count relating to the purchase of human organs.

Merritt turned herself in to authorities earlier this week and is also out on bond.

Daleiden has argued that the videos he helped produce showed Planned Parenthood officials negotiating over the price of aborted fetal organs.

A grand jury in Houston last week called to investigate whether Planned Parenthood sold aborted fetal organs said it didn’t find evidence of illegal activity on the part of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast.