CHICAGO — A pro-life group filed a complaint with the IRS this week against Planned Parenthood, alleging that its use of a mobile abortion van offering free services near the Democratic National Convention violated its status as a nonprofit organization.
40 Days for Life released the documents exclusively to Fox News Digital on Wednesday, accusing Planned Parenthood Great Rivers and Planned Parenthood Great Rivers – IL of violating their tax-exempt status.
“The IRS strictly prohibits rewarding political parties and candidates with free abortions and other in-kind gifts – a basic rule that every nonprofit understands,” CEO Shawn Carney told Fox News Digital. “Planned Parenthood’s recklessness on such a public stage is astonishing.”
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Planned Parenthood Mobile Clinic (Jamie Joseph/Fox News Digital)
“Beside the filing is – what a dark and somewhat silly message the DNC is sending – that abortion will be a priority, not in philosophy or policy, but in fact, that we will perform abortion as part of our convention and brag about it,” Carney said. “We have never seen a political party or, frankly, a candidate celebrate abortion as the most important issue.”
The lawsuit states: “By these actions, Planned Parenthood openly advertises and provides free services of nonprofit organizations to participants in a national political rally in direct connection with a party and certain political candidates.”
The lawsuit goes on to say, “These actions clearly constitute and/or imply a direct or implicit endorsement of a particular party, platform, or candidate,” which violates the organization’s nonprofit status.
PRO-LIFE GROUPS RESPOND TO PLANNED PARENTHOOD’S ABORTION VAN WITH OUTREACH NEAR DNC
A Planned Parenthood mobile van offers free vasectomies and medication abortions. An inflatable IUD from the group Americans for Contraception Education Fund is on display next to a taco truck near the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, Illinois, Tuesday, August 20, 2024. (Fox News Digital)
Planned Parenthood Great Rivers of St. Louis announced in an X-post that a bus was traveling to the DNC in Chicago on August 19 and 20 to provide free services. On Tuesday, a Planned Parenthood official told Fox News Digital that the organization only performs medication abortions and is fully booked.
“Here we come, Chicago! Our mobile health clinic will be in the West Loop August 19-20 with @ChiAbortionFund and @TheWienerCircle offering FREE vasectomies and medication abortions,” the post read. “EC will also be available for free and without an appointment.”
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Dr. McNicholas works in a Planned Parenthood mobile van offering free vasectomies and medication abortions near the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, Illinois on Tuesday, August 20, 2024. (Fox News Digital)
In a press release, Planned Parenthood Great Rivers Chief Medical Officer Dr. Colleen McNicholas said, “Accessibility is a core value at Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, and our mobile health clinic helps us bring healthcare to more people who need it.”
“As people from across the country travel to Illinois this week, we are proud to demonstrate what is possible when policymakers truly support accessible reproductive health care,” McNicholas said.
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This election year, Democrats have made abortion a central theme of their party platform and are warning that a Trump presidency could lead to a nationwide ban on abortion.
Former President Trump has already stated that the decision to restrict abortion will be left to the states, in line with the overturn of Roe v. Wade.
On the first day of the DNC, abortion was the focus of attention. Several speakers spoke at length about how this is one of the central issues of the Democratic Party 2024 platform.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Planned Parenthood for comment.
