Don’t let false allegations lead to damaging witch hunt

STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – Senate Democratic Leader Katie Hobbs released the following statement on today’s statements by Governor Ducey and Attorney General Brnovich on false allegations of illegal tissue sales occurring in Arizona:

Sen. Hobbs

“Today Governor Ducey and Attorney General Brnovich released strongly-worded reactions to a stunt set up by a political group whose goal is to damage Planned Parenthood. The group's video was heavily edited to make it appear Planned Parenthood's voluntary tissue donation program is illegally selling tissue, which it does not. In fact, Planned Parenthood Arizona does not even have a tissue donation program,” said Senator Hobbs.

“What Planned Parenthood does do is provide health care to millions of women, including birth control, STD testing and treatment, cancer screenings and abortion. For thousands of Arizona women, especially working poor women, Planned Parenthood is their main source of health care.

“It is entirely proper for Governor Ducey and Attorney General Brnovich to raise concerns of possible illegal activity in Arizona and their calls for investigations would be justified if there were legitimate proof of illegal tissue sales occurring in Arizona. But in this case there is no such evidence and a video hatchet job by political extremists does not justify a witch hunt.

“As Governor Ducey and AG Brnovich work to tighten up existing laws that already make tissue sales illegal, I ask that they resist the urge to launch investigations that could harass and intimidate Arizona women and their health care providers.”