In 2016, then California Attorney General Kamala Harris investigated pro-life activists for secretly recording conversations with Planned Parenthood officials.

Yet while Harris' successors alleged that the individuals were guilty of multiple felonies, their cases were dropped this week.

Activists avoid fines and jail time

According to Fox News, Center for Medical Progress founder David Daleiden and journalist Sandra Merritt entered into a plea agreement on Tuesday.

Despite initially facing 15 felony charges the pair pleaded "no-contest" to a single charge, with neither receiving fines or prison time.

"My case is the first and only one that was ever criminally charged by the state attorney general's office, and it was because of Planned Parenthood's demand to cover up the information that was on those video recordings about how they're using partial birth abortions to sell late-term aborted baby body parts at their taxpayer funded mega clinics across the state of California and across the country," Daleiden told Fox News in an interview.

"I'm no expert, but I definitely think that the election has something to do with it," the pro-life activist went on to speculate.

California attorney general calls Daleiden a convicted felon

For his part, California Attorney General Rob Bonta provided a statement to Fox News in which he pledged to "not hesitate to continue taking action against those who threaten access to abortion care — whether by recording confidential conversations or other means."

Bonta reiterated his position in another statement posted to social media, writing, "David Daleiden has been convicted of felony invasion of privacy for illegally recording confidential conversations with healthcare professionals."

However, Daleiden was quick to push back against Bonta's assertion with a social media post of his own, writing, "This is false."

"The judge explicitly stated on the record yesterday that we would ONLY be 'convicted' and 'found guilty' if we break the agreement," he stressed.

Daleiden's lawyer demands that Bonta issue a retraction

"Why is [Attorney General Rob Bonta] misrepresenting our agreement the day after signing it?" Daleiden demanded. "Did someone from [Planned Parenthood Federation of America] tell him to?

This is false.

The judge explicitly stated on the record yesterday that we would ONLY be "convicted" and "found guilty" if we break the agreement.

Why is @AGRobBonta misrepresenting our agreement the day after signing it?

Did someone from @PPFA tell him to? 🤔 https://t.co/Fq0fkfViIE pic.twitter.com/9n1AGHCm2Q

— David Daleiden (@daviddaleiden) January 29, 2025

What's more, lawyer Steve Cooley sent a letter to Bonta's office which demanded a retraction of Bonta's "false statements."