UPDATE: Anti-Abortion Defendants Plan to Plead Fifth Amendment

In a discovery hearing Friday, counsel for defendants notified the court that all defendants, including the Center for Medical Progress (CMP) and Biomax, plan to plead the Fifth Amendment in response to the pending discovery requests in order to refrain from self-incrimination.The parties agreed in the hearing that the individuals who masqueraded as Biomax representatives, and are known only by alias identities will be bound by the temporary restraining order (TRO) as if they were named parties to the suit, and prohibited from releasing any confidential information from National Abortion Federation (NAF) meetings.

The TRO will remain in effect until a preliminary injunction hearing, which was scheduled for August 27, then rescheduled for October 9, and is now tabled while other motions and matters related to discovery are heard.“The TRO is incredibly important to ensuring the safety and security of our members,” said Vicki Saporta, President and CEO of NAF. “Since Daleiden, CMP, and Newman initiated this latest smear campaign against abortion providers, we have seen an alarming increase in anti-abortion hate speech, threats, and criminal activity, including death threats made against providers. We take these threats very seriously and have been working with law enforcement to help ensure that this escalation does not lead to violence.”