Sandra Merritt is a wonderful person—a faithful grandmother whom the Lord used to expose some of Planned Parenthood's dirtiest secrets.

But right now, she's facing one of the most hostile legal attacks we've ever seen. And the fight is getting more intense. In the next 60 days, we'll be defending Sandra in two fierce courtroom clashes.

The first—a two-week preliminary criminal hearing—got underway yesterday in San Francisco. (See my update below.) The second—a jury trial in Planned Parenthood's lawsuit seeking millions from Sandra—starts in San Francisco federal court October 2.

This is an intense and extraordinarily expensive battle on two fronts. Will you stand with Sandra and give generously to help us successfully engage these battles?

Please see my update below! -Mat

Liberty Counsel went into court yesterday in San Francisco to defend pro-life hero Sandra Merritt in a crucial two-week preliminary hearing.

It began with a retired late-term abortionist describing the unborn baby as a "tough little object" in an undercover video shown in court.

The abortionist, referred to in court as "Doe 3," also admitted in the video recorded at the 2014 National Abortion Federation abortion trade show that she routinely "didged," or killed the baby in utero with digoxin.

She did so, she said, because that gave her and the mother more "peace of mind." It also prevented the "delivery of a live fetus," which is "the biggest disaster and it never goes away."

This case stems from Sandra's courageous undercover work as an investigative journalist. With colleague David Daleiden, Sandra exposed Planned Parenthood's barbaric practice of harvesting organs from babies and selling them for profit. The videos she helped to produce stirred the conscience of America.

But in a sickening twist, Sandra is literally fighting for her freedom against 15 baseless and politically motivated felony charges.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra—who has pocketed thousands in campaign donations from Planned Parenthood—is using the vast resources of his office to punish Merritt for her undercover work exposing his benefactor!

If convicted, Sandra could spend more than a decade behind bars.

Your gift now is vital to defending Sandra against this political prosecution!

+ + Political prosecution built on "house of cards"

Yesterday's preliminary hearing—a pre-trial to determine if the state has adequate evidence to go to trial—put witnesses under oath and under cross-examination.

"This preliminary stage is the put-up-or-shut-up stage," Liberty Counsel attorney Nicolaie Cocis said in court yesterday. "What today has revealed is the prosecution by the attorney general is political in nature and built on a house of cards."

Let me give you one example of what he meant.

AG Becerra indicted Sandra for, allegedly, violating the California Invasion of Privacy Act by using a hidden camera to record conversations. But the Act excludes recording in public places—like a hotel ballroom—where there's no expectation of privacy.

Yesterday in court, an undercover video was played that features "Doe 7"—a non-physician who performed surgical abortions for Planned Parenthood. In the video, "Doe 7" speaks with Merritt’s colleague, David Daleiden, in the ballroom of San Francisco’s Westin St. Francis hotel.

The video shows people walking by, well within earshot. Under cross-examination, "Doe 7" admitted that others could overhear the conversation.

"Did you lower your voice?" Liberty Counsel Chief Litigation Counsel Horatio Mihet, asked. "Did you take any precautions to make sure these individuals didn't hear you?" "Doe 7" answered that she had not.

"Doe 7," an abortionist, also testified that she provided human organs from the babies she killed at Planned Parenthood on a regular basis.

But it's Sandra—not Planned Parenthood or its staff—who is on trial in California.

It's Sandra who's facing jail time.

It's Sandra coming under attack from an extremely aggressive activist attorney general.

It's Sandra who's facing bullying and intimidation from Planned Parenthood's legal army.

+ + We are seeking justice for our client.

This is a selective, highly discriminatory, and politically motivated prosecution. Liberty Counsel has shown that no other citizen journalist or journalism organization has ever been charged by the state of California with a crime for undercover recordings made in the public interest.

When law enforcement selectively targets people, everyone should be concerned.

To make matters worse, Planned Parenthood is also deploying its legal war chest in a very aggressive civil suit against Sandra. The abortion giant—a $1.7 billion corporation—is using its massive resource to crush Sandra in a multi-million-dollar lawsuit.

As you know, we do not charge Sandra or any client for representation. Liberty Counsel relies on a faithful team of supporters like you to stand with us as we fight each critical battle.

Today, we urgently need YOUR HELP!

+ + The fight for Sandra's freedom is now red hot...

We're in court again today for what promises to be more eye-opening testimony. Liberty Counsel will cross-examine a third-trimester abortion doctor who made shocking statements in an undercover video shown in court yesterday for the first time.

This hearing is enormously expensive—and it's already taxing our staff resources. Horatio Mihet told me this morning he was running on only a couple hours of sleep.

But, he added, "we are making excellent progress."

And the reason is friends like you! Your generous support makes it possible to defend Sandra in a critical battle for her own life and future—and one of the most crucial pro-life cases in America today.

The battle will only escalate in the weeks ahead. That's because Planned Parenthood's civil lawsuit is set to begin on October 2. It will last four-six weeks.

Both the civil and criminal cases are extremely expensive. Which is why I ask for your generous support now. Please prayerfully consider making your best possible tax-deductible gift to Liberty Counsel today.

God bless you for partnering with Liberty Counsel to defend Sandra against Planned Parenthood's outrageous assault!

Sincerely,

Mat Staver
Founder and Chairman
Liberty Counsel