In her new book, Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards alleges that Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner offered an increase in federal funding to Planned Parenthood if the organization agreed to stop providing abortion services, according to CNN.
The offer happened in January of 2017, but it wasn’t until the recent release of Richards’ book, "Make Trouble: Standing Up, Speaking Out, and Finding the Courage to Lead,” that the bribe became public knowledge. People Magazine reported that Kushner told Richards that Planned Parenthood “had made a big mistake by becoming ‘political.’”
CNN detailed what Richard wrote about the incident for her book. Richards said "Jared and Ivanka were there for one reason: to deliver a political win. In their eyes, if they could stop Planned Parenthood from providing abortions, it would confirm their reputation as savvy dealmakers. It was surreal, essentially being asked to barter away women's rights for more money.”
Kushner described his ultimate goal to Richards. The goal, People reported, was “a national headline reading ‘Planned Parenthood Discontinues Abortion Services.’” Richards made it clear in her book that this would’ve never happened, but Richards described what it was like to be faced with this decision. “Honestly, it felt almost like a bribe. I know there are people who will disagree with me, and maybe I shouldn’t have just shut down the conversation, but I did what I thought was best,” Richards said.
Richards said that she met with Trump and Kushner, despite her political leanings, because "even if there was only a sliver of a chance of changing anyone's mind, I owed it to Planned Parenthood patients to at least take the meeting,” according to CNN. Richards has even gone as far to criticize Trump’s role in the administration. Richards said “If (Trump’s) job is to advocate for women, I don't think she's done a very good job. And particularly when it comes to women's rights, we need a strong advocate in this White House.”
The White House hasn't yet made a statement on these claims.
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