Last summer, David Daleiden and his group Center for Medical Progress covertly filmed Planned Parenthood engaging in the business of fetal harvesting. The gruesome exposé series left the nation shocked. Sadly, not shocked enough. The story many hoped would spur a nationwide renaissance has taken another sickening twist. This week, after what began as an investigation of Planned Parenthood, charges were levied not against its officials but against the filmmakers responsible for exposing the brutality. The Daily Signal reports that Daleiden “was indicted for tampering with government records and a misdemeanor relating to the purchase of human organs.” Furthermore, “Sandra Merritt, another Center for Medical Progress employee, was indicted with on a charge of tampering with government records.”

Don’t miss the irony here. According to The New York Times, “The record-tampering charges accused Mr. Daleiden and Ms. Merritt of making and presenting fake California driver’s licenses, with the intent to defraud, for their April meeting at Planned Parenthood in Houston.” But Mr. Daleiden also faces the possibility of prison for supposedly indulging in the very thing his videos were intended to stop: for-profit fetal harvesting. Daleiden responded to the news by observing, “We respect the processes of the Harris County district attorney, and note that buying fetal tissue requires a seller as well.” Indeed, Planned Parenthood officials were discussing ways to spend their newfound wealth after the fetal parts were auctioned off. Perhaps that part was edited out from the grand jury investigation. But we digress.

Eric Ferrero, Vice President of Communications for Planned Parenthood, used the indictments as vindication: “These anti-abortion extremists spent three years creating a fake company, creating fake identities, lying, and breaking the law. When they couldn’t find any improper or illegal activity, they made it up. These people broke the law to spread malicious lies about Planned Parenthood in order to advance their extreme anti-abortion political agenda. As the dust settles and the truth comes out, it’s become totally clear that the only people who engaged in wrongdoing are the criminals behind this fraud, and we’re glad they’re being held accountable.”

Kermit Gosnell was at least jailed for his atrocity, but neither his nor Planned Parenthood’s actions have sparked the necessary soul searching needed to implement policy changes. Which prompts the question: What will it take for America to stop turning a blind eye? The quicker we take action, the less suffering there will be. For more than 55 million babies — some of whom were auctioned off in the marketplace — it’s already too late. It’s important to note that whether or not the fetal remains were sold for profit or whether the funds received were strictly for reimbursement purposes is beside the point. Since when did butchering babies and auctioning off their parts for research purposes ever become acceptable?