After a slew of controversy following Texas’ passage of the “heartbeat bill”, which allows private individuals to file charges against any woman seeking an abortion and those who assist them in the process, the Department of Justice assures people that they will continue to challenge the bill to uphold the constitutional rights of women.
The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland regarding Texas SB8:
“While the Justice Department urgently explores all options to challenge Texas SB8 in order to protect the constitutional rights of women and other persons, including access to abortion, we will continue to protect those seeking to obtain or provide reproductive health services pursuant to our criminal and civil enforcement of the FACE Act, 18 U.S.C. § 248.
“The FACE Act prohibits the use or threat of force and physical obstruction that injures, intimidates, or interferes with a person seeking to obtain or provide reproductive health services.
It also prohibits intentional property damage of a facility providing reproductive health services. The department has consistently obtained criminal and civil remedies for violations of the FACE Act since it was signed into law in 1994, and it will continue to do so now.
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“The department will provide support from federal law enforcement when an abortion clinic or reproductive health center is under attack. We have reached out to U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and FBI field offices in Texas and across the country to discuss our enforcement authorities.
“We will not tolerate violence against those seeking to obtain or provide reproductive health services, physical obstruction or property damage in violation of the FACE Act.”
The abortion law, signed by Republican Governor Greg Abbott went into effect on Wednesday, sparking backlash from abortion rights groups and individuals not just in the state but in the whole world.
This legislation is troubling for women and girls in Texas who might not even know they are pregnant at six weeks; the law makes no exception for victims of rape or incest.
They are also being put at risk when seeking abortion methods by traveling to other states. There are also no sanctions or punishments in the bill involving the potential fathers associated with the pregnancies.
The Supreme Court favored Texas in a 5-4 decision, ultimately passing the law restricting abortion access at six weeks of pregnancy.