Louisiana indicts California abortionist for abortion pill trafficking

Update 1/15/26: California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday that he has rejected Louisiana's request to extradite Dr. Remy Coeytaux, who has been charged with illegal abortion pill trafficking in that state.

In a statement, Newsom cited his Executive Order N-12-22, which protects abortionists like Coeytaux who violate the laws in other states.

“Louisiana’s request is denied," Newsom said. "My position on this has been clear since 2022: We will not allow extremist politicians from other states to reach into California and try to punish doctors based on allegations that they provided reproductive health care services. Not today. Not ever."

1/14/26: Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has announced that the state has indicted California abortionist Remy Coeytaux for trafficking illegal abortion pills into the state.

Key Takeaways:

• California abortionist Remy Coeytaux allegedly mailed abortion pills to a Louisiana woman in October 2023, causing the death of her preborn child.

• The trafficking of abortion pills into the state violates state law.

• Attorney General Liz Murrill has issued an arrest warrant for Coeytaux, and has sent an extradition request to Governor Jeff Landry.

• This is the second time Louisiana has issued an arrest warrant for Coeytaux, and he is also the defendant in a Texas lawsuit regarding the illegal mailing of abortion pills in that state.

The Details:

According to Murrill, Coeytaux has been charged in St. Tammany Parish with Criminal Abortion by Means of Abortion-Inducing Drugs, a crime carrying a penalty of "one to fifty years at hard labor and fines, depending on the circumstances." A warrant has been issued for his arrest, with an extradition request sent to Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry.

According to the extradition packet, the indictment centers around a chemical abortion that occurred in October 2023. During an investigation conducted during March 2024, the mother involved in the abortion admitted that she had found the company Aid Access through an internet search. Aid Access is an international business that ships the abortion pill into the United States. Coeytaux, who is a California practitioner affiliated with Aid Access, shipped the pills to the woman after she sent a $150 Venmo payment.

In her announcement, Murrill noted that trafficking the abortion pill — which is illegal in the state — will not be tolerated.

“This is not healthcare; it’s drug dealing. Individuals who flagrantly and intentionally violate our laws by sending illegal abortion pills into our state placing women in danger [sic]. We’ve seen the proof of that, with women showing up in emergency rooms after taking these pills and being coerced into abortions," said Murrill.

1st Trimester Abortion | The Abortion Pill | What Is Abortion?

Zoom Out:

This is not the first time legal action has been sought against Coeytaux for illegal trafficking of abortion drugs, and is the second arrest warrant issued against Coeytaux by the state of Louisiana.

In October, it announced a warrant for his arrest after he allegedly mailed abortion pills to the boyfriend of Rosalie Markezich, a woman who was excited about her pregnancy and did not want an abortion. After illegally sourcing the pills from Coeytaux, the boyfriend forced Markezich to take them, causing the death of her preborn child.

Last year, a Texas man also filed a lawsuit against the abortionist. In that instance, like Markezich's, Coeytaux is alleged to have mailed the abortion pills to someone who was not the pregnant woman, who then used the pills to coerce a woman into an abortion.

Following that lawsuit, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a cease-and-desist letter to Coeytaux, warning him that his "conduct violates multiple state and federal laws."

The Bottom Line:

Because he resides in California, Coeytaux will likely be protected by his state's "shield law," which protects abortionists who break the laws of pro-life states. While abortionists continue to be protected, women will continue to be put at risk while their preborn children are killed.