Olathe — Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline is questioning whether Planned Parenthood altered patient records before turning them over to a judge as part of an earlier criminal investigation.
The allegations arose Wednesday during a court hearing as Kline argued for disqualifying two attorneys who are representing Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri in its current criminal case on abortion-related charges.
Kline intended to call lawyers Pedro Irigonegaray and Robert Eye as witnesses. But his motion to have the attorneys barred from the case was denied by Judge Stephen R. Tatum.
Prosecutors allege that Planned Parenthood's Overland Park clinic performed unlawful late-term abortions and kept inadequate records.
Planned Parenthood officials and their attorneys said allegations about the records possibly being altered are false.
"Our client denies any wrongdoing," Irigonegaray said after Wednesday's hearing. "We were very disturbed by Mr. Kline's efforts to put on the record information that's not only erroneous but without any basis in fact."
Kline based his records allegations on testimony that Shawnee County District Judge Richard Anderson gave Wednesday. Anderson is the judge who at Kline's request subpoenaed the records in 2004 after Kline - then Kansas attorney general - began his initial Planned Parenthood investigation.
Anderson testified that records he eventually received from Planned Parenthood in 2006 - after the agency fought the subpoenas - did not match the original records. Anderson said the questionable records were the same ones that current Attorney General Paul Morrison reviewed when he cleared Planned Parenthood of wrongdoing last year.
Based on that, Anderson said he does not believe Morrison should have issued his letter clearing the agency.
Planned Parenthood has repeatedly pointed to Morrison's letter as proof that Kline's charges are baseless.
A spokeswoman for Morrison, an abortion rights Democrat, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Kline, an anti-abortion Republican who has been accused of bringing his politics into the courtroom, filed a 107-count criminal complaint against Planned Parenthood in October. The complaint consists of 23 felonies and 84 misdemeanors, alleging unlawful late-term abortions and inadequate record keeping at Planned Parenthood's Comprehensive Health clinic in Overland Park.
Kline and Morrison have clashed over the Planned Parenthood allegations. A lawsuit before the Kansas Supreme Court involves the two politicians and Planned Parenthood, but those involved have not discussed the case and the documents are sealed.
Morrison was Johnson County district attorney before switching parties and, as a Democrat, beating Kline for the attorney general's job in 2006. Republicans in Johnson County picked Kline to replace Morrison in the county job.
In December, Morrison acknowledged having an extramarital affair with a former subordinate in the district attorney's office. She also accused him of harassment and trying to get her to provide sensitive information on Kline's activities, including his investigation of Planned Parenthood.
Morrison has denied the allegations of professional misconduct, but he plans to step down as attorney general Jan. 31. Kline has said he will appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Morrison's conduct.
Comments
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marcdeveraux (anonymous) says…
why can't the right wing anti -abortion people move on? they never seem satisfied. the world is over populated , resources are getting ever scarcer.we,humans, are becoming a cancer on this planet. what does cancer do? it kills the host.(read earth),we must become aware that we are killing our planet. uncontrolled breeding will be our death .common sense is required,not some silly ideas based on right wing nonsense.
Crossfire (anonymous) says…
Phill KKKline....
...humm.
Still an idiot?
yep...still an idiot.
mancityfooty (Corey Williams) says…
"DA Phill Kline has now succeeded in preventing Planned Parenthood from later challenging trail [sic] proceedings based on a conflict of interest in their attorneys,"
Oh, you mean when "his (Klein's) motion to have the attorneys barred from the case was denied by Judge Stephen R. Tatum."
staff04 (anonymous) says…
Unfortunately Phill, baseless accusation and innuendo do not equal "evidence," which is what is required to go to court.
I would have thought you knew that, considering that you are a minister and all...I mean uh...attorney.
Agnostick (anonymous) says…
Lots of allegations...
Lots of innuendo...
but so far...
Zero evidence.
Zero convictions.
The #1 cause of abortion is **still** the unwanted pregnancy.
The ***only*** way to permanently reduce the number of abortions... is to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies. This is an irrefutable fact that sends the extremists running for cover, every time.
Promoting abstinence, allowing better access to birth control, and improving access to abortifacients is the best strategy available for reducing unwanted pregnancies.
Many other nations across the globe are much more successful than we are at lowering their teen pregnancy rates, despite what you may read in certain extremist media channels.
Agnostick
agnostick@excite.com
http://www.uscentrist.org
http://www.americanplan.org
Agnostick (anonymous) says…
GMTA, staff04 ;)
pace (anonymous) says…
Where does Phil live? where is his honor, in his pocket and underneath his ego.
georgeofwesternkansas (anonymous) says…
Did Phil send his wife out in public to defend his honor while he was in a hotel room with his employee/lover?
The dem's actions are soo loud, I cannot hear what they are saying.
Our constitution allows difference of opion on issues such as this. But it is certainly no reason to disrespect your neighbor.
georgeofwesternkansas (anonymous) says…
Phil has implied several things in the last 2 years. And so far his implications have actually been true. Hate him if you want, but the truth is the truth.
staff04 (anonymous) says…
Really George?
Is that why the Kansas Supreme Court laughed his ass right out of the courtroom?
pace (anonymous) says…
People who have unquestioned faith in lawyers are the same as who have unquestioned faith in any "leader' they are ripe for plucking.