Abortion Doctor Got Federal Help, Gave to DNC

When Wichita physician George Tiller made a $25,000 contribution last year to the Democratic National Committee, he asked a Kansas party fund-raiser for a special favor in return.

One of the few doctors in the country who perform third-trimester abortions, Tiller wanted a chance to personally thank President Clinton for 30 months of door-to-door protection by the U.S. Marshals Service.

The service provided to Tiller, who was shot in 1993 by an antiabortion extremist, goes far beyond what the government has extended to any other abortion provider faced with threats and on-the-job violence, interviews indicate.

Tiller got his wish. Last June 17 he was one of 13 guests at an intimate coffee hosted by the president.

The chain of events and circumstances surrounding the coffee illustrate the 1996 campaign’s unusual minuet of fund-raising and government action in a year when controversial figures such as Chinese industrialist Wang Jun, convicted felon Eric Wynn and others gained an audience at the White House as the party made a pell-mell effort to raise campaign funds.

Tiller abruptly lost his Marshals Service protection last month, shortly after Kansas news media reported his presence at the coffee.

“The decision to give him protection had absolutely nothing to do with political contributions,” said Justice Department spokesman John Russell. “I don’t think that the personnel that made the decision had any idea or asked any questions about political affiliations. The bottom line is, we’re trying to prevent a death in an area that is very volatile and where there has been precedence for death.”

“Without commenting on the specific situation of this particular individual, we can state categorically that no government action ever resulted because of a campaign contribution,” said White House special counsel Lanny J. Davis.

Tiller’s spokeswoman, Peggy Jarman, said that although the $25,000 contribution was Tiller’s “special way of saying thank you” for the protection, he would have made the contribution even if he had not received the protection.

She said Tiller also contributed because Clinton supports abortion rights and then-Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole does not.

Antiabortion activists said Tiller’s protection is objectionable because others in high-risk jobs do not receive federal protection.

“Security is at banks, and those are paid for by the banks. Security at grocery stores [is] paid [for] by grocery stores. Why should we pay for his security?” said David Gittrich, executive director of Kansans for Life.

The activists say they believe that because Tiller is wealthy, he can afford to pay for his own security. Tiller built an 18-room, 8,500-square-foot house in Wichita assessed at $732,000. He owns his clinic, which is assessed at $502,000. He owns four cars, including a BMW convertible.

U.S. Marshals Service spokesman Bill Dempsey would not comment on Tiller, but said the decision to provide protection is evaluated by a task force of local and federal law enforcement officials. Dempsey said only one doctor is now under marshals’ protection.

Until recently, U.S. marshals were authorized to provide protection only for federal judges and witnesses. But in 1994, after the murder of physician John Britton and escort Jim Barrett at a Pensacola, Fla., abortion clinic, Atty. Gen. Janet Reno ordered marshal protection at 24 clinics, including Tiller’s.