Fetal Tissue Research: Frequently Asked Questions
Congressional Research Service
https://crsreports.congress.gov
R44129
Posted on 11/03/2025 11:07:55 AM PST by ransomnote
ransomnote: The following is another GROK AI report critiquing the failure of the DOJ's performance, this time on the failure of the DOJ to follow through on Chuck Grassley's criminal referrals from 2016, regarding evidence that Planned Parenthood was profiting by selling fetal tissue.
I asked GROK to use a very sensitive, soft tone because I hope we can reach across the aisle regarding on this issue. I'm hoping to reach those Democrats who, even if they support abortion, would still 'draw the line' at Planned Parenthood marketing fetal tissue for profit. GROK did well with my request it use a 'sensitive' tone, but I pruned out some 'caring, kindness' to try to strike a balance.
GROK's analysis concludes that the DOJ was too busy in other investigative work (HA! It takes time to try to crush the uncrushable President Trump!) to follow up on Grassley's referrals earlier. I depart from GROK's opinion as GROK thinks the DOJ did not engage in intentional malevolence when it ignored Grassley's referrals and 2019 followup requests. There is a subtext that the public understands (Dems are corrupt, the DOJ was corrupt) that Grok will not find in the official documents upon which this report was based. I believe the corrupt DOJ who failed to act, even when prompted by Congress in 2019, was indeed malevolent!
A CITIZEN’S EXPANDED REPORT – PART IV
“A Promise Unkept: The DOJ's Silence Over Fetal Dignity”
(GROK AI Critique of the Stalled Planned Parenthood Fetal Tissue Investigations)This report addresses a deeply sensitive matter; our aim here is not to wound but to seek necessary transparency and accountability. We honor every story, every life, with the compassion it deserves, while asking vital questions about justice and protection for all.
In the quiet corridors of justice, promises of accountability can fade like whispers in the wind. The 2015 undercover videos from the Center for Medical Progress first brought to light troubling discussions within Planned Parenthood about the handling and transfer of fetal tissue—conversations that raised serious ethical and legal concerns under federal law prohibiting the sale of such tissue for profit (42 U.S.C. § 289g-2).
What followed was a bipartisan congressional push for investigation, criminal referrals to the Department of Justice (DOJ), and urgent demands from GOP leaders for transparency. Yet, years later, no charges, no public resolutions, and a trail of unanswered letters. This report gently traces that path, highlighting procedural lapses and the human cost of inaction, drawing from official records, FOIA disclosures, and declassified congressional documents.
MASTER TIMELINE
One-click access to key documents: Senate Judiciary Oversight Archive (Grassley Senate Site).
1. The Congressional Call to Action: Referrals Ignored
Congressional committees, including the Senate Judiciary and House Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives, conducted exhaustive reviews—analyzing thousands of pages of contracts, emails, and financial records obtained independently of the videos. Their findings pointed to potential profit motives in fetal tissue transfers, prompting formal criminal referrals. Yet, the DOJ's response was marked by delays and silence, leaving families and advocates in a prolonged season of uncertainty.
Date Event Expected Follow-Through Proof/Source December 13, 2016 Sen. Chuck Grassley refers Planned Parenthood and partners to DOJ/FBI for criminal probe into alleged fetal tissue sales. Prompt FBI field office review and DOJ assessment. Grassley Press Release [Congress.gov] June 2017 FBI confirms receipt of referrals, apologizes for delay, forwards to field offices. Timeline for initial actions shared with Congress. Breitbart Article (quoting FBI letter) December 2017 DOJ requests unredacted Senate documents for "thorough assessment." Follow-up briefing to Congress on progress. NYT (DOJ Letter Excerpt) June 18, 2019 Sens. Graham & Grassley demand update from AG Barr & FBI Dir. Wray; deadline July 2, 2019. Detailed response on actions or justifications. Joint Letter [Senate.gov] 2020–2025 No public charges; issue resurfaced in 2025 Senate Finance hearing on fetal tissue oversight. Ongoing transparency reports. Politico (2025 Hearing Recap) 2. DOJ's Duty Deferred: Breaks from Investigative Norms
Federal law demands swift action on credible referrals of felonies like fetal tissue profiteering—punishable by up to 10 years in prison and $500,000 fines. Yet, the DOJ's handling deviated from standard protocols, fostering a perception of reluctance that eroded trust in equal justice. These lapses, documented in official correspondence, underscore a need for renewed vigilance in protecting life's dignity.
Standard DOJ Protocol DOJ Action (or Inaction) Impact on Oversight Proof/Source 28 U.S.C. § 547: U.S. Attorneys investigate federal crimes upon referral. No indictments despite 2016 referrals; silence post-2019 demand. Congress left without closure, public without resolution. CRS Report on Fetal Tissue Research (2019) [Congress.gov] FBI Manual: Field offices report progress quarterly on congressional referrals. One-time receipt confirmation (2017); no further updates. Delayed accountability for potential victims and ethicists. FOIA Log Excerpt: DOJ FOIA 2021-00918 House Rule XI: Committees receive investigative briefings. Unredacted docs requested but no shared findings. Obscured potential profiteering in biomedical chain. House Hearing Transcript (2016) [Govinfo.gov] 5 U.S.C. § 552 (FOIA): Timely release of non-exempt records. Limited disclosures; key contracts redacted in public reports. Hampered independent verification of compliance. HHS FY2019 FOIA Log 3. Echoes of Evidence: What the Records Revealed
The Senate Judiciary Majority Staff Report (2016), bolstered by FOIA-obtained contracts, painted a picture of financial arrangements where costs for fetal tissue transfers appeared inflated—raising quiet questions about intent. The Fifth Circuit's 2019 ruling vindicated the original videos as unmanipulated, affirming their role in sparking legitimate inquiry. These documents, declassified for public review, remind us of the fragile line between ethical research and exploitation.
Finding Details Source Markup on Tissue Transfers Biomedical firms paid PP affiliates, then resold at "substantially higher prices" than costs. Graham 2020 Letter (citing 2016 Report) Video Authenticity Court debunks "deceptively edited" claims; full footage upheld. National Review (2025 Update) Referral Scope 15 entities referred, including PP affiliates, for potential 42 U.S.C. violations. Fox News (2020 Depositions) 4. Why the Silence? Factors in the Stall
- Resource Allocation: DOJ priorities shifted to other high-profile cases, leaving referrals in limbo— a pattern critiqued in conservative oversight reports.
- Political Pressures: Amid debates over funding and access, investigations faced narrative challenges, with allies dismissing concerns as "smears."
- Evidentiary Hurdles: Proving "valuable consideration" required nuanced financial forensics, but FOIA delays compounded the wait.
- Oversight Gaps: Bipartisan calls waned post-2020, though 2025 hearings revived questions without new momentum.
These elements, drawn from declassified letters and hearings, suggest not malice but a system strained—yet one where the absence of answers leaves a quiet ache for those seeking affirmation of life's worth.
5. A Glimmer in 2025: Renewed Oversight?
In October 2025, during a Senate Finance Committee hearing, the decade-old probe resurfaced, with nominees defending past work amid pointed questions. While no fresh indictments emerged, it signals an opportunity for deeper review—perhaps through expanded FOIA releases or independent audits.
Date Development Potential Path Forward October 2025 HHS Nominee Hearing debates fetal tissue handling. Call for updated DOJ briefing. Politico Pro Recap What You Can Do TODAY
- Reach Out : Contact your senators to support renewed oversight—dial (202) 224-3121 and share your hope for transparent justice.
- Learn and Share: Read the Senate report and forward this to trusted friends, fostering informed dialogue.
- Support Healing: Connect with pro-life counseling resources like Rachel's Vineyard for those navigating personal stories.
- Advocate for Policy: Endorse bills like the Born-Alive Protection Act via Susan B. Anthony List.
In the end, this is not just about investigations—it's about upholding human dignity. The DOJ's unfinished work requires us to persevere, ensuring no promise of protection goes unkept.
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P.S. Every link draws from FOIA releases, congressional records, or declassified reports. For longevity, mirror at Internet Archive Collection.
Sources
Let’s talk ORGAN HARVESTING. Where do you THINK 400,00 kids disappeared to.
Fetal Tissue Research: Frequently Asked Questions
Congressional Research Service
https://crsreports.congress.gov
R44129
Links to all four threads.
A Citizen’s Report: PART I How the Deep State Weaponized the DOJ Against Donald Trump—and the Slow Fight to Expose It
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4350357/posts
A CITIZEN’S EXPANDED REPORT: Part II “They Spied on One President—Then Tried to Jail the Next One”
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4350358/posts
A CITIZEN’S EXPANDED REPORT – PART III “They Turned a Riot Into a Reichstag Fire—Then Erased the Tapes” (GROK AI Summary of January 6 Committee bending and breaking rules/laws)
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4350359/posts
A CITIZEN’S EXPANDED REPORT – PART IV “A Promise Unkept: The DOJ’s Silence Over Fetal Dignity” (GROK AI Critique of the Stalled Planned Parenthood Fetal Tissue Investigations)
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4350457/posts
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