Planned Parenthood has removed Republican House candidate Patrick Penn’s name as a contributor to the organization after he claimed that the donation had been made falsely in his name.
Planned Parenthood adjusted its campaign finance report from last year to show the $100 donation as anonymous.
“The Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission asked us to anonymize the contribution, and we are continuing to follow the guidance of the commission while they look into the matter,” said Planned Parenthood spokeswoman Mandy Culbertson.
Mark Skoglund, executive director of the ethics commission, declined to comment.
Penn disavowed the contribution, charging that it was made under false pretenses by Republican rival state Rep. Michael Capps or a campaign associate.
Penn, who was endorsed by Kansans for Life, suspects that the $100 donation was made in an effort to torpedo his campaign for the 85th House District, which covers parts of Butler and Sedgwick counties.
“We are very much elated that truth has won out,” Penn said. “I never donated to Planned Parenthood or any such organization, nor would I ever.”
Capps continued to maintain that Penn gave to Planned Parenthood even after the organization removed the donation from its report.
“Despite requests from many within the pro-life community, Mr. Penn has yet to provide any evidence to support his claim he didn’t contribute to the murder of our unborn children — something any defender of life would want to clear their name of,” Capps said in an email Thursday afternoon.
Capps has run into his own problems related to the abortion issue — among many others — when Kansans for Life rebuked him for claiming that he had their endorsement.
“Rep. Capps is fully aware that neither KFL nor KFL PAC is supporting his bid for re-election,” Melissa Leach, manager for KFL’s political action committee, said last month.
“This attempt to mislead voters underscores his reported public scandals and showcases why pro-lifers cannot trust him.”
