Despite an explicit ban on COVID-19 relief funds being used to subsidize abortions, nearly $20 million from federal COVID programs ended up going to America's largest abortion chain.
Now federal lawmakers want to know how that happened and if false information was submitted on sworn applications – and whether criminal charges are warranted.
Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Representative Josh Brecheen (R-Okla.) led a group of seven senators and 29 representatives in asking Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General Christi Grimm to investigate how more than $20 million in Provider Relief Funds (PRF) was issued to Planned Parenthood under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
The letter asks Grimm to “determine whether the organization provided false or misleading information to obtain access to PRF funds.”
The Members wrote in their letter, “Congress intentionally designed the CARES Act so that no federal funding appropriated through the bill could be used on abortion… This organization did not possess a financial need for funds distributed through the PRF, nor should taxpayer dollars be given toward the provision of abortions. We request that you review the applications submitted by Planned Parenthood to determine whether the organization provided false or misleading information to obtain access to PRF funds.”
The lawmakers note that while other medical providers closed down or cut back on care, Planned Parenthood, flush with taxpayer cash, performed more abortions than before the lockdowns, while cutting back on the procedures the money was supposed to fund.
“Planned Parenthood and its affiliates' efforts are centered around abortion. Despite the pandemic and lockdown policies, in its 2020-2021 annual report, Planned Parenthood and its affiliates performed 383,460 abortions.
This was an increase from the previous year, a time when Planned Parenthood performed 354,871 abortions.6 Planned Parenthood also provided fewer health services during the pandemic,” they note.
“Breast screenings fell by more than 30%, gynecological exams decreased by 39%, and total pregnancy tests decreased by 14%,” the lawmakers write, citing Planned Parenthood's own report.
It appears Planned Parenthood used the funds to subsidize abortions, rather than the procedures that were supposed to be covered.
“If it is discovered that Planned Parenthood intentionally falsified information on its applications, we ask that you submit a criminal or civil referral to the US Department of Justice,” the lawmakers write.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
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Isn’t it strange how the conservatives “ask” that charges be filed, and nothing ever comes of it? While in stark contrast, the liberals always bring charges, with very little asking. Yet Congressional conservatives could easily, through denial of funding, bring these criminals to heel. They’re all in on the steal.