Planned Parenthood affiliates in Washington do not sell fetal tissue and do not perform partial-birth abortions, according to an investigation by the Washington attorney general’s office.

These findings should be repeated as often as the baseless allegations that the clinics in this state and around the country were breaking the law. Other states have conducted probes that also have failed to uncover illegal activity. Congress held a widely watched hearing and also came up empty.

The allegations themselves, however, have done considerable damage. Arson fires at Planned Parenthood offices in Pullman and Southern California closely followed the release of videos from the Center for Medical Progress, a radical anti-abortion group. Extensive damage in Pullman caused the organization to move into temporary quarters.

Research has been disrupted at Seattle clinics using fetal tissue for important research on birth disorders, genetic heart defects, kidney malformations and macular degeneration. Nationwide, fetal cells are used in research of HIV, autism, spinal cord injuries and other conditions. In the past, the cells were used to develop vaccines for childhood diseases.

Republican legislators from the Washington House and Senate sent letters to Attorney General Bob Ferguson asking for the investigation into “mounting” evidence that the clinics were operating outside the law. The only things mounting were the redundant accusations as each misleadingly edited video was strategically released.

The history of attacks against Planned Parenthood for being an abortion provider and facilitator is long and violent. Since 1976, 40 clinics have been bombed and 186 acts of arson have been committed against abortion providers, according to the National Abortion Federation. In 1996, a Spokane Valley clinic was bombed.

Legislators claim their inquiry had nothing to do with abortion, and they complained about Ferguson suggesting otherwise in his response.

So let’s take them at their word. Lawmakers asked for a specific inquiry with no intent to discredit the organization. Planned Parenthood was cleared.

Now, lawmakers can stop using baseless allegations as an excuse to justify anti-abortion activity. They can help spread the news that the organization is following the law, and there is no need to attack it. When their constituents say otherwise, they can correct them.

It’s the responsible thing to do.

In addition, there won’t be any need to introduce bills that impinge on legal research performed by clinics such as the Birth Defects Research Laboratory at the University of Washington, or that inhibit Planned Parenthood’s ability to deliver its services, most of which aren’t related to abortion and all of which are legal.

Because, as the House letter to Ferguson said, this was never about abortion. If true, it’s time to move on.