By Cheryl Sullenger
Abortionist George R. Tiller of Wichita, Kansas, is scheduled to stand trial on June 16, 2008, on 19 criminal misdemeanor counts of committing illegal late-term abortions by violating the second unaffiliated physician clause in the Kansas ban on post viability abortions. But given the obstructive actions of the Attorney General's office that have recently come to light in the Planned Parenthood criminal case, Operation Rescue is concerned that the Tiller case may not be honestly prosecuted.
The 19 charges against Tiller were filed last June by former Attorney General Paul Morrison, who was forced to resign after news broke of his involvement in a sex and abortion corruption scandal. Morrison had attempted to persuade his illicit lover to spy on investigations against Tiller and Planned Parenthood for the purpose of derailing those investigations.
Pro-abortion Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, then appointed fellow Democrat Steve Six to replace Morrison. Recently unsealed court records show Six making secret attempts to prevent a key witness against Planned Parenthood, Judge Richard Anderson, from testifying at a criminal proceeding now underway in Johnson County. Furthermore, Six worked to remove incriminating evidence against Planned Parenthood from Anderson's custody for the purpose of returning it to Planned Parenthood, which would have derailed the prosecution against them.
Once these actions became public, Six backed down and amended his request for the return of documents to take place after the criminal cases were resolved. Six obviously got caught trying to obstruct justice, and was forced to back peddle.
In light of his propensity to cover up for criminal activity on the part of abortion clinics, can Six's staff be trusted to pursue the Tiller prosecution with integrity? Will his political debt to Sebelius be paid for with more obstruction of efforts to bring abortionists to justice?
Sebelius' personal ties to Tiller have come under renewed scrutiny the due to release last week of photos showing her entertaining Tiller and his entire staff at Cedar Crest, the governor's official residence. In the photos, she seems to be acknowledging Tiller for his part in the election of pro-abortion candidates in the last election cycle. Sebelius owns much of her political success to Tiller.
"Tiller has pumped huge amounts of cash into Democratic politics in this state through a complicated series of PACs and shell organizations that are extremely difficult to track," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "There is no doubt in my mind if you were to remove the Tiller money from the past two election cycles, we would not see pro-abort Democrats such as Sebelius, Six, and others in office today."
"If Tiller is convicted of crimes, they know that they will not be able to hold on to power in this Red state," continued Newman. "Does that mean that Sebelius would order Six to submarine the Tiller prosecution? Well, all I can say is that money and power are strong incentives to do just that."
Also at issue is whether the trial will proceed as scheduled. Judge Clark Owens has allowed numerous delays already. He has been sitting on two Tiller motions - one that is asking him to declare the Kansas second physician requirement unconstitutional - since November 2, 2007. The only movement on Owen's part since that time has been to grant delays to Tiller, without as much as a peep from Assistant Attorneys General Jerald Maag and Veronica Dersch who are the prosecutors assigned to the case.
"We'll know in a few days whether this trial will move forward or not," said Newman. "These incessant delays are only working to benefit Tiller. Every day this prosecution is stalled is another day that viable babies who should be protected by law are at risk of having their lives illegally terminated. It is simply inexcusable that the people of Kansas would tolerate political corruption subverting justice at the cost of innocent blood."
