Group behind anti-abortion videos is something of a mystery

In this Monday, Aug. 10, 2015, photo, traffic passes in front of a Postal Annex store in Sacramento, Calif., that is listed as one of two addresses associated with a nonprofit organization known as the Center for Medical Progress. Despite its name, the group employs no scientists or physicians engaged in advancing medical progress. The group recently drew national attention for covertly shot videos of officials from Planned Parenthood discussing the use of aborted fetuses for research. An abortion provider group is suing CMP over its clandestine tactics and the California attorney general's office accuses it of falling behind on its fees and paperwork and has opened an investigation into its activities. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) In this Monday, Aug. 10, 2015, photo, traffic passes in front of a Postal Annex store in Sacramento, Calif., that is listed as one of two addresses associated with a nonprofit organization known as the Center for Medical Progress. Despite its name, the group employs no scientists or physicians engaged in advancing medical progress. The group recently drew national attention for covertly shot videos of officials from Planned Parenthood discussing the use of aborted fetuses for research. An abortion provider group is suing CMP over its clandestine tactics and the California attorney general's office accuses it of falling behind on its fees and paperwork and has opened an investigation into its activities. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

By Associated Press August 12, 2015 4 min read

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – It calls itself the Center for Medical Progress, and its name has been all over the news in the past few weeks after it began releasing hidden-camera videos that set off an uproar over the use of tissue from aborted fetuses in medical research.

But a review of the group and the small number of people associated with it in public filings suggests there is little to support the lofty sound of its title. The addresses it lists are postal drops in Sacramento and Irvine, and it employs no scientists or physicians engaged in advancing medical treatments.

The people named as its top officers are longtime anti-abortion activists with a history of generating headlines.

The nonprofit organization is also facing legal and regulatory challenges: An abortion provider group is suing it over its clandestine tactics, and the California attorney general’s office has accused it of falling behind on its fees and paperwork and has opened an investigation into its activities.

The center’s CEO defended the organization, saying it has been true to the mission it stated when it registered with the attorney general’s office for nonprofit status in 2013: to “monitor and report on medical ethics and advances.”