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Citing a deeply flawed process, workers, supporters, advocates, and former employees of Planned Parenthood Southeast (PPSE) are rejecting the findings of an independent review that the organization says cleared its leadership of alleged wrongdoing, calling them “baseless” and “without merit.”

In October, a worker-led campaign called Save PPSE alleged that the reproductive health care provider was under a hostile corporate takeover by leaders who do not align with the organization’s pro-LGBTQIA+ and abortion rights mission. An independent review conducted by “a nationally recognized law firm” did not support those accusations, according to a Nov. 25 press release from PPSE, which supports five reproductive health centers, plus two virtual centers, across Georgia and Alabama. PPSE did not publish the review, nor have they shared it with workers, according to the Save PPSE campaign. 

“The investigation found no merit to the allegations, but it highlighted an opportunity to make meaningful improvements and send a clear message that we will never waver in our mission to ensure equitable access to abortion and reproductive health education,” said Mitchell Robinson, PPSE board member and chair of the Special Committee created to oversee the investigative process, in the press release.

The press release also states that PPSE will maintain Interim CEO Mairo Akposé in her position as the organization launches a “nationwide search for a permanent CEO.” Akposé will also be given “new key performance indicators for increased accountability,” though the press release did not reveal the specifics of these new indicators.

Save PPSE has alleged that Akposé, who started as a human resources consultant and rose through the ranks within a year, has engaged in retaliatory layoffs and hired workers with little to no experience in nonprofits. 

Management has also been accused of transphobic harassment and an effective dismantling of the PPSE’s advocacy infrastructure, leaving the operating clinics without policy, organizing, or education leadership at a time when reproductive rights are under attack, especially in the Deep South.

“The Save PPSE Campaign unequivocally rejects the findings released by the Planned Parenthood Southeast 501(c)(3) board, which labeled ALL extensive community-raised concerns and evidence as ‘baseless’ and ‘without merit,’” the campaign wrote on Instagram on Dec. 7. “This conclusion is false, deeply irresponsible, and the predictable outcome of an investigation deliberately structured to protect those accused of harm—not the patients, staff, or communities PPSE exists to serve.”

The public relations firm hired by PPSE did not respond to Prism’s request for comment. Akposé also did not respond to Prism, and PPSE’s communications desk emailed Prism stating that Akposé “is unavailable to comment further beyond her current public statement.” Prism could not find any public statement by Akposé, and the desk did not respond to Prism’s follow-up question asking for the statement.

Staff interviews

The press release published by PPSE claims that the hired investigators “interviewed staff and reviewed e-mails, internal memos, strategic plans, accreditation findings, financial statements, patient-volume data, and meeting notes” and found “no evidence supporting the claims and determined there was no political infiltration of any kind at PPSE.” Additionally, PPSE says it invited the Save PPSE campaign to speak to investigators but that the invitation was declined. 

Campaigners say they were open to the possibility of meeting with investigators and reached out to PPSE’s public relations firm on Oct. 14. The firm connected the campaign to the board, which invited the campaign to have a conversation about the allegations. After an internal discussion, however, the Save PPSE campaign decided not to meet with investigators as they feared potential retaliatory action from PPSE for current staff with relevant information, according to emails seen by Prism. The campaign was also concerned about a lack of transparency, as the name of the law firm conducting the investigation was never publicly revealed.

“The pervasive atmosphere of fear has silenced remaining staff, denying them any safe avenue to provide feedback,” Save PPSE’s email to investigators reads. “Remaining staff have continued to report a culture of bullying and increased intimidation/silencing tactics over the last two weeks by the current PPSE leadership.” The investigators did not respond, the campaign said. 

In a public statement and in an interview with Prism, the Save PPSE campaign alleges that former staff members who have publicly gone on record with allegations against PPSE leadership were told by the board that they’d be contacted by investigators, but never were. According to Chandler, a campaign member and current employee close to senior leadership decisions who is using a pseudonym for fear of retaliation, the independent investigation did not provide a safe channel for current staff to share information until early November, and even then, the submission process wasn’t fully anonymized. 

After weeks of current and former staff requesting a channel that protects the identity of current workers against retaliatory layoffs, the board informed the workers that they could use an internal reporting system that is not fully anonymous and is directly delivered to the HR department, or to reach out to an email address specifically created for the investigation. 

Chandler told Prism that while campaign members were concerned about potential retaliatory layoffs should they speak out, several individuals did reach out to investigators to submit evidence individually. “Some people sent [information] individually, some people sent it under [the email declining the invitation to meet], and they never even got a ‘yes, we’ve received this, we’ve read this.’ Nothing.” 

Prism reached out to the investigation email address for comment and clarity on whether former and current staff had been interviewed but got no response. 

Chandler estimated that 40 to 50 people contacted Save PPSE to submit evidence against PPSE and that there are around 15 people the campaign knows of who submitted evidence directly to the special committee email, but none of the submissions got any responses, they said. “Nobody talked to [the investigators],” Chandler said. “We’re still trying to figure out who they talked to.” 

In Save PPSE’s Dec. 7 statement, the campaign alleges that the investigation was “a cover-up,” charging the PPSE board of directors with “ignoring warnings for years about infiltration and hostile leadership.” The statement compares the alleged PPSE hostile takeover with larger patterns of corruption across the U.S. “The scale is different, but the mechanism is the same: those with influence, corporate power, and lawyers protect themselves, while those harmed are forced to fight for truth for those most vulnerable in our communities,” the statement reads. 

As the dispute continues, Chandler said that workers in PPSE health centers are reporting that “this is having a massive impact.” Two registered nurses quit the Metro Atlanta health center and have not been rehired, Chandler said. 

“If we don’t have registered nurses, we’re not going to be able to perform any service to its full capabilities,” Chandler said.

Editorial Team:
Sahar Fatima, Lead Editor
Carolyn Copeland, Top Editor
Stephanie Harris, Copy Editor