NOW Blasts Reiner for Not Charging Abortion Foes

Blasting Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Ira Reiner for not filing felony charges against the leaders of an anti-abortion rally last weekend, the leader of the Los Angeles chapter of the National Organization for Women said Wednesday that Reiner is “failing miserably” on issues of abortion rights and family support. “The role of his office should have been to shut down those people,” said local NOW President Tammy Bruce, speaking at a news conference to reaffirm the group’s support for Reiner’s opponent in the Democratic state attorney general’s race, San Francisco Dist. Atty. Arlo Smith.

Earlier this week, Reiner’s office referred a case against two Operation Rescue leaders to the city attorney’s office, which Tuesday filed misdemeanor charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice against the pair.

Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for Reiner, said felony charges were not filed because of the overwhelming likelihood that a court would not sentence the protesters to state prison.