Congressional subcommittee investigating Planned Parenthood

Via Thomas Peters at Catholic Vote comes this breaking news: the congressional Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations is officially looking into the financial procedures – and criminal-conduct reporting policies – of Planned Parenthood.

Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla), chairman of the subcommittee, sent a letter dated September 15 to PP President Cecile Richards asking for information regarding the organization’s use of federal funds, mentioning in particular “written policies and procedures … that explain how to ensure compliance with federal mandates that the Title X funding each affiliate receives is segregated from its abortion business/sources of funding for abortion-related services.”

The letter also requests information pertaining to how criminal activity – specifically statutory rape and sex-trafficking – is reported by PP and its affiliates:

6. Please provide a summary of how PPFA detects criminal conduct and the policies and procedures in place to prevent it or report it.

7. Please provide the policies and procedures PPFA and its affiliates have in place to ensure that all Planned Parenthood clinics report all cases of suspected sexual abuse, including statutory rape, to the proper authorities.

8. Please provide the policies and procedures PPFA and its affiliates have in place to ensure that suspected sex trafficking is reported to the proper authorities.

Rep. Stearns’ letter gives Richards two weeks to respond with the requested information.

Readers will no doubt recall the sting operations carried out by Live Action earlier this year, which revealed Planned Parenthood employees advising and assisting individuals alleging involvement in under-age prostitution and sex trafficking.