The Texas Medical Board director, who retired abruptly earlier this month after Republican legislators and conservative activists found out he also worked with a Planned Parenthood laboratory, wrote in his resignation letter that he felt forced to resign over “political pressure.”
Dr. Robert Bredt, who served as the medical director of the Texas Medical Board for more than 12 years, wrote that he had been “looking forward to serving several more years.”
“It seems a shame that political pressure from a fringe group has jeopardized that career,” Bredt wrote.
The Dallas Morning News obtained a copy of Bredt’s resignation letter through an open records request. Bredt declined to comment on Friday evening. A spokesperson for the Texas Medical Board did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday evening.
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Bredt turned in his resignation notice on Jan. 7, less than two weeks after Republican state representatives posted Bredt’s resume on social media.
Bredt’s resume, which had become public during an ongoing battle between the Texas Medical Board and an anti-vaccine Houston doctor, included his position as laboratory medical director of the Planned Parenthood of South Texas Laboratory.
He had held that position since 2011, before he stepped into his role at the Texas Medical Board.
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Two state representatives — Rep. Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian) and Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park) — publicly called for Bredt to be fired over his work with Planned Parenthood.
🚨Texas should be leading the fight against Planned Parenthood – not employing them.
Respectfully asking Gov @GregAbbott_TX to have all Planned Parenthood officials removed from state agencies, especially the one regulating healthcare as Medical Director of Texas Medical Board. pic.twitter.com/LmKq9v0CWq
Harrison called Bredt a “fox” that needed to be “removed from guardianship of the henhouse.” Cain referred to Planned Parenthood as ”a criminal organization” and “the kingpin of the abortion cartel.”
Their calls received support from a number of other conservative voices.
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Planned Parenthood locations in Texas do not provide abortion care, as abortions are illegal in the state with limited exceptions. The clinics do provide sexual and reproductive health care services, including birth control and STI testing.
Bredt underscored these basic health services in his resignation letter, writing that the laboratory he worked for provided health care to “underserved and marginalized patient populations here in Texas.”
He also noted that his work with Planned Parenthood was legal and that he received “prior written approval” to work in that outside role.
The state did not offer Bredt any settlement or opportunity to negotiate, Bredt wrote in the letter.
“I am deeply saddened that I am being forced to leave this job with TMB due to a part time position ensuring the appropriate, legal and necessary healthcare of underserved citizens of the State of Texas,” Bredt wrote.
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