The Kansas Department of Health and Environment refused to turn over abortion records subpoenaed by anti-abortion extremist Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline. According to Health and Environment Department Spokesperson Joe Blubaugh, the agency’s attorneys state that turning over the records would be against the law, reports the Kansas City Star. The Department has filed a motion to block the subpoena, and a hearing is scheduled for this week. Kiani was still stoned to death on July 5, 2007. Ebrahimi’s death was stayed due to the public outcry, and last week the Iranian judiciary amnesty commission released her from prison.
Kline filed a 107-count criminal complaint against Planned Parenthood’s Overland clinic last October, and seeks the records as part of his investigation. However, according to Planned Parenthood attorney Pedro Irigonegaray, the records Kline seeks have been previously reviewed by former Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison, who found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing, reports the Kansas City Star. A Kansas grand jury also cleared the Overland clinic last month when it concluded its investigation without filing any charges.
Phill Kline is the former Kansas attorney general who was ousted by voters in 2006. Kline’s successor as attorney general, Paul Morrison remained skeptical of the merits of a case involving Kline’s previous attempts to subpoena abortion records and of Kline’s motives. “We continue to wonder how much politics influenced Mr. Kline’s decision to file these charges,” Morrison’s spokeswoman told the New York Times.
