178 Dems demand end to Planned Parenthood probe

Nearly the entire House Democratic caucus is calling on Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) to disband the GOP’s investigation into Planned Parenthood.

The 178 Democrats who signed the letter — out of 188 total — blasted the investigative panel for “continued, escalating abuses” that they say are risking the lives of patients, providers and researchers.

They called out the investigation panel’s chairwoman, Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), for demanding that universities and clinics release the names of individuals involved in abortions or fetal tissue research “for no legitimate congressional reason.”

Some of those contacted by the panel “have expressed fear for their safety if identified in connection with this investigation, with some repeatedly described by [Blackburn] and other Republicans in misleading and inflammatory terms,” the Democrats wrote.

The panel was initially targeted at Planned Parenthood and its fetal tissue controversy that was at the center of undercover videos last year.

But after a grand jury in Texas — appointed by the state’s GOP attorney general — decided to instead indict the videomakers, the House GOP’s committee began to probe elsewhere.

The committee recently turned its attention to an abortion clinic in Germantown, Md., which Republicans said is “one of the few in the nation that performs abortions during the third trimester.”

Democrats said Blackburn called out the provider in a press release before ever reaching out to them or finding evidence of wrongdoing.

Democrats also accused their GOP leaders of violating House rules by issuing subpoenas to 19 people — 17 of whom were not given a chance to first respond voluntarily.

The Democrats said Republicans refused to provide a list of the people being subpoenaed.