A women’s rights attorney is challenging the firing of a Texas Medical Board official whose involvement in a politically charged case drew statewide attention.

Gloria Allred appeared before the Texas Medical Board to protest the January resignation of Dr. Robert Bredt, who stepped down after controversy over his part-time work at Planned Parenthood’s South Texas lab, KVUE reported. Allred called Bredt’s departure a forced termination, adding he had been denied his constitutional rights.

Bredt told the board, “There was absolutely nothing wrong or illegal with what Planned Parenthood did or does; there was nothing wrong or illegal with what I did to support them. Providing health to low-income women and families is a good thing that everyone should support,” KVUE reported.

State Rep. Brian Harrison (R-Waxahachie) said he had posted about Bredt’s association with Planned Parenthood and sent a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott demanding Bredt’s removal.

“The Texas Medical Board testified to me that they had no knowledge that [Bredt] was also working for Planned Parenthood, so I tell you this, somebody is lying. There’s no constitutional issues, there’s no due process, right? Spare me the government at the state of Texas is responsible to the people because it is the people who fund the government, and it’s the people who get to decide what type of people they want to have on their payroll,” Harrison told KVUE.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE DALLAS EXPRESS APP

Bredt’s exit was initially reported as a retirement, with The Texas Tribune stating that Bredt submitted retirement paperwork after his Planned Parenthood ties became public and drew scrutiny from lawmakers. According to the report, Bredt had worked for the Texas Medical Board since 2012 and earned $185,000 annually, alongside his part-time work at Planned Parenthood South Texas Laboratory and other private labs.

Bredt’s exit came amid his slated role as an expert witness in the Texas Medical Board’s long-running disciplinary case against Dr. Mary Talley Bowden, a Houston ear, nose, and throat specialist.

Bowden discovered Bredt’s employment with the abortion provider while reviewing administrative court documents that cited his qualifications and employment. She subsequently highlighted this fact in her social media posts and public statements.

On the same day that Allred appeared with Bredt, Bowden faced sanctions for attempting to treat a COVID-19 patient with ivermectin in 2021, a case that has drawn national attention and criticism over its political undertones, DX reported.

Bowden criticized the board, saying, “For the past four years, the board has relentlessly pursued me, attempting to prove I am a dangerous physician. Despite this lack of evidence, their administrative judges have deemed me dangerous and intend to issue a public reprimand that will remain on my record,” The Dallas Express reported when the board’s attorneys first proposed the sanction.

Bredt’s attorney, Robert Schmidt, said they are in contact with the governor’s office and the Texas Medical Board and are considering legal options, per KVUE. The Texas Medical Board did not provide additional comment but confirmed the Medical Director position has been filled since October 1.