A protracted legal battle concluded Wednesday with a California judge dismissing the final charge against a pro-life activist. The case stemmed from undercover videos alleging illegal profit from fetal tissue by abortion providers, bringing an end to years of contentious proceedings.
David Daleiden, founder of the Center for Medical Progress, announced the dismissal on social media, describing a final, unexpected attempt to overturn a previous settlement agreement. The charges, initially fifteen in number, were filed in 2017 by then-Attorney General Xavier Becerra.
The origins of the case trace back to an investigation initiated by Kamala Harris during her tenure as California’s Attorney General. This investigation began after the release of the undercover videos and continued after Harris’s election to the U.S. Senate in January 2017.
In January 2025, Daleiden and fellow journalist Sandra Merritt pleaded no contest to a single felony count as part of a settlement. This agreement resulted in the dismissal of all remaining charges, with no jail time, fines, or admission of guilt required.
Judge Brian Ferrall’s decision on Wednesday finalized the case’s closure, expunging the record. Daleiden previously characterized the end of the legal action, initiated under Harris’s leadership, as a significant victory for investigative journalism and public access to information.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, however, framed the 2025 plea deal as a win for reproductive healthcare access. He stated his office secured felony convictions and emphasized a commitment to protecting constitutional rights to abortion care.
The agreement stipulated that Daleiden and Merritt were prohibited from contacting or naming individuals featured in the recordings, and required adherence to all laws, including restrictions on future recordings. Bonta contrasted his office’s actions with federal pardons granted to individuals convicted of harming reproductive health facilities.
The controversy began in 2015 with the release of videos showing conversations between Merritt and Planned Parenthood personnel. These conversations detailed procedures designed to preserve fetal organs for potential harvesting.
Harris’s office responded by launching an investigation into Daleiden and Merritt, alleging violations of California’s recording laws. This led to a raid on Daleiden’s apartment in April 2016, an action he claimed was politically motivated.
The videos prompted a Senate Judiciary Committee request for a Department of Justice investigation into Planned Parenthood Federation of America, though no charges were ultimately filed against the organization. The fallout also included a civil suit filed by Planned Parenthood against Daleiden.
In 2019, Daleiden was ordered to pay $2.4 million in damages and over $13 million in attorney’s fees as a result of that civil suit, adding another layer to the complex and far-reaching legal saga.
