Karen Handel VP Of Komen Foundation Resignes Over Planned Parenthood Issue

By: Pat Prescott
02/08/2012 10:50 AM ET

Karen Handel who was the vice president of public policy at the Susan G. Komen Foundation has resigned due to the fact the foundation pulled funding from Planned Parenthood and the aftermath.

Karen Handel has received flack over the fact that she supported the Foundation in pulling funding from the family planning organization and that her political beliefs were involved.

Though Handel claims the decision was not hers, saying the discussion had started before she arrived at Komen and the final decision was made at higher levels with no protests.

In a statement Handel says, “I am deeply disappointed by the gross mischaracterizations of the strategy, its rationale, and my involvement in it. I openly acknowledge my role in the matter and continue to believe our decision was the best one for Komen’s future and the women we serve.”

Handel told Fox news that, “I resigned because it was clear that all of this had gotten to a point where … I was too much of a focal point. I really felt I had a responsibility to step aside so they could refocus on their mission.”

A source indicated that Handel had pushed for the Komen organization to redirect grant monies of which $700,000 was used to fund breast cancer exams and mammography referrals for poor women at Planned Parenthood in order to distance the Komen foundation from and controversies associated with the family planning organization.

Source: Karen Handel