Terry Gets 5 Months in Prison for Role in Presenting Fetus to Clinton

NEW YORK —  Operation Rescue founder Randall Terry was sentenced Friday to five months in prison for presenting a fetus to President Clinton during the Democratic National Convention.

“Unfortunately, when the defendant spoke, he demonstrated no remorse, no contrition, no respect for the law,” U.S. District Judge Robert J. Ward said as he imposed the sentence, which was suspended pending Terry’s appeal.

Ward found Terry, 34, of Binghamton, N.Y., guilty of one charge of contempt following a three-day, non-jury trial.

Ward said Terry assisted a man pretending to be an autograph seeker who presented the fetus to Clinton on July 14, 1992, even though Terry was not present.

A federal court order issued prior to the convention had barred Operation Rescue and Terry from delivering on a threat to present a fetus to Clinton.

Before sentencing, Terry told of his pleasure when he learned that Clinton had gotten into his limousine, then came out to sign one more autograph.

Clinton walked about 20 feet to a man who held a newspaper, ostensibly to be signed. Under the paper, the man held a container with a 19-week-old fetus. Spotting it, Clinton tossed the newspaper and the pen back to the man and left.

“I believe God did a miracle,” Terry told the judge. “He got out of the car and came back.”