Antiabortion Leader Faces Felony

The longtime executive director of the state’s largest antiabortion group has been charged with a felony after allegedly intercepting e-mail and voice messages from Planned Parenthood of Lincoln, an abortion-services provider.

Nebraska Right to Life Director Julie Schmit-Albin, 46, was charged Friday along with former Planned Parenthood employee John F. Keller, 53, with intercepting communications.

Keller was able to access Planned Parenthood e-mails because he had set up the organization’s computer system and knew the passwords of individual employees, police said.

Schmit-Albin had been in contact with him for several months through e-mails, authorities said.

Schmit-Albin’s attorney, Sean Brennan, said the evidence was weak and that his client had clearly stated in e-mail that she didn’t want the information if it violated the law.

Authorities, however, say Schmit-Albin encouraged Keller.

According to court records, Schmit-Albin told Keller in one e-mail, “I’m perfectly comfortable taking what you or a third party tells me; what you have access to.”

Police also say Keller offered Schmit-Albin keys and security codes to get into the two Planned Parenthood clinics in Lincoln, although her responding e-mails showed she declined to accept them.

The e-mail exchanges came to light when abortion opponent Pam Tabor McCabe, an officer with Lincoln Right to Life, contacted police after learning of Keller’s offer to Schmit-Albin.

Keller reportedly told police he sent the e-mails to retaliate against Planned Parenthood for firing him; Planned Parenthood Executive Director Chris Funk said Keller had resigned.

A message seeking comment was left Saturday at a phone number for John F. Keller in Lincoln, but it was not returned.