Beverly Hills mayor denies AG’s accusation that city conspired to keep abortion business out

Last year, an all-trimester abortion facility attempted to open in Beverly Hills, California. Despite California’s reputation as a haven for abortion, the residents of Beverly Hills pushed back so much, the landlord ultimately revoked the facility’s lease. The facility, the DuPont Clinic based out of Washington, D.C., promptly sued., claiming that four city officials — including Mayor Julian Gold — withheld permits from the abortion facility, pressured the landlord to cancel the lease, and held “secret meetings” with pro-life advocates where they “promised them it would stop DuPont from opening.”

California Attorney General Rob Bonta got involved, opening an investigation into the city, and has accused Beverly Hills officials of purposely blocking the abortion facility from opening, which is illegal in the pro-abortion state.

In a statement, Bonta said the city has been issued a stipulated judgment which requires city officials to be trained on state and federal protections for abortion facilities, and to develop procedures for how to report violations in the future.

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“At a time when access to abortion care is under attack across this nation, it is now more critical than ever to double down on our commitment to protect those seeking reproductive healthcare in our state,” Bonta said in the statement, adding:

It is troubling that, even here in California where access to reproductive healthcare is a constitutional right, Beverly Hills officials have taken actions reminiscent of those in extremist red states by illegally interfering with, and ultimately preventing a new reproductive healthcare clinic from opening.

Today’s first-of-its kind agreement will ensure that the City abides by comprehensive training and education of reproductive healthcare laws. The agreement also serves as a benchmark for local governments to evaluate their healthcare policies and services, guaranteeing that they not only comply with the law, but also fulfill California’s broader commitment to reproductive healthcare access.

At the California Department of Justice, we believe that reproductive healthcare is a fundamental right and will ensure that this right is upheld, free from political interference, and hold accountable those who break the law.

The complaint against Beverly Hills is the first filed under California’s Proposition 1, which added “reproductive freedom” to the state constitution and bans California from “denying or interfering with an individual’s reproductive freedom in their most intimate decisions, which includes their fundamental right to choose to have an abortion.”

Lester Friedman, the current mayor of Beverly Hills, denied Bonta’s accusations, saying the city “did not interfere with the planned opening of the clinic” and disagreed with the allegations made against them. The DuPont Clinic has still not opened in Beverly Hills.

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