Operation Rescue Leaders File Two Complaints Against Kansas Attorney General Morrison

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Medical Malpractice / Litigation
Article Date: 07 Jan 2008 - 7:00 PDT

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Leaders of the antiabortion group Operation Rescue on Wednesday announced they had filed complaints asking two separate state agencies to investigate outgoing Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison (D), the Kansas City Star reports.

The first complaint, filed with the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission, seeks to determine whether Morrison received campaign contributions from Wichita, Kan.-based abortion provider George Tiller and Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri in exchange for agreeing not to file charges against them. The second complaint, filed with the Office of the Disciplinary Administrator, asks the office to investigate whether Morrison violated the ethical code of conduct for lawyers during his affair with Linda Carter, a former employee in the Johnson County district attorney's office. Neither state office would confirm the complaints, citing laws that prohibit them from doing so. According to Troy Newman, president of Operation Rescue, the complaints seek disbarment and civil fines (Carroll, Kansas City Star, 1/2).

Morrison last month announced his resignation effective Jan. 31 after Carter filed a sexual harassment claim against Morrison with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Carter said that Morrison used her to gain sensitive information about Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline's (R) investigation of PPKM. Morrison acknowledged the affair but denied any other wrongdoing. Morrison switched parties and defeated Kline in the 2006 state attorney general's election last year.

During the campaign for attorney general, Morrison criticized Kline for subpoenaing records from clinics operated by PPKM and Tiller, who owns Women's Health Care Services in Wichita, Kan. Morrison in June cleared PPKM of any wrongdoing, and he criticized Kline's handling of his criminal case against Tiller. Morrison also charged Tiller with 19 misdemeanors for allegedly violating a state law that requires an independent, consulting physician to approve some postviability abortions (Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 12/20/07). Morrison spokesperson Ashley Anstaett declined to comment on Operation Rescue's complaints but noted Morrison's pending case against Tiller (Milburn, AP/Kansas City Star, 1/2).

Kansas State Rep., Operation Rescue Head Settle Lawsuit Over 2006 Altercation

In related news, Newman and state Rep. Vaughn Flora (D) late last month settled a lawsuit that Newman filed against Flora following an altercation at the Kansas State Fair in September 2006, the AP/Topeka Capital-Journal reports. Both parties agreed to keep private the terms of the settlement.

According to the AP/Capital-Journal, Flora during a campaign event held at the fair for Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) ripped off part of a mask Newman was wearing as part of a cockroach costume to protest what he viewed as substandard conditions at abortion clinics. According to the suit, Newman received a two-inch cut when Flora ripped the costume. Newman's suit alleged that Flora struck at least two times and caused him to fear for his safety.

Flora in May 2007 pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor battery charge and avoided a 30-day jail sentence by paying a $100 fine and $128 in court costs. Flora apologized to Newman in a Nov. 13, 2007, letter, saying, "I have always been a strong believer in the First Amendment and one's right to free speech. I am sorry for my actions and any physical harm I may have caused."

Newman on Wednesday said the lawsuit was necessary to demonstrate that it is "intolerable behavior for anyone, especially a state legislator," to attack someone for having different beliefs, adding, "By his apology and settlement we are satisfied that his actions were wrong and that he appreciates the First Amendment." According to the AP/Capital-Journal, Flora did not return requests for comment (AP/Topeka Capital-Journal, 1/2).

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