Florida drops complaints against abortion clinics

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Florida health regulators are dropping their push to fine three clinics operated by Planned Parenthood.

Court documents show the Agency for Health Care Administration last Friday asked an administrative judge to dismiss complaints first filed last year against clinics located in St. Petersburg, Naples and Fort Myers.

The state alleged that the clinics had performed second-trimester abortions that violated their licenses. Planned Parenthood representatives have maintained that abortions were performed during the first trimester.

The move to drop the complaint came the same day Gov. Rick Scott signed a measure into law that changes trimester definitions. AHCA spokeswoman Mallory McManus said in an email that the new law made the complaints moot.

Planned Parenthood said in a statement Monday that the decision to drop the complaints shows the charges were “politically motivated.”