A congressional committee that is investigating abortion providers nationally that supply fetal tissue to researchers asked several clinics to hand over documents. On Monday, an Albuquerque clinic provided just about all of the info that was requested—except for one thing.
Southwestern Women’s Options is refusing to turn over a list of personnel who’ve worked at their clinic in New Mexico for the past five years. Spokesperson Heather Brewer said it’s a safety issue. "It’s not just about the personnel," she said. "It’s about their family. It’s about everyone in their lives being impacted by people who disagree with a woman’s right to a safe and legal abortion."
Brewer says the climate is too volatile for staff names to be revealed and points to a shooting late last year at a Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood. Three people died, and the shooter expressed anti-abortion sentiment at hearings.
The House panel was created to investigate whether organizations that provide researchers with fetal tissue are violating any federal laws. "The entire situation is an example of the long arm of Washington, D.C. reaching into doctors’ offices and trying to intimidate doctors and intimidate women," Brewer said.
As of airtime, Southwestern Women’s Options had not received a response from the panel.
