New York AG to personally intervene as Texas attempts to prosecute abortionist

New York Attorney General Letitia James has announced she will personally intervene to prevent Texas from enforcing its pro-life laws in New York courts, and will defend the abortionist who shipped abortion drugs into Texas.

Key Takeaways:

Abortionist Margaret Carpenter sent abortion pills by mail to a woman in Texas, violating state law.
New York Attorney General Letitia James enforced New York's "shield law" to protect Carpenter.
After a Texas judge issued a $113,000 judgment against against Carpenter, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton asked the Ulster County Supreme Court to enforce the judgment and collect the money.
NY AG James is now trying to ensure that New York courts do not enforce the judgment.

The Backstory:

Last year, Carpenter — a founder of the abortion pill group "Hey Jane" — was sued by the state of Texas for mailing abortion pills to a 20-year-old woman in Collin County, Texas, despite lacking a medical license in Texas. The woman experienced complications severe enough that she had to go to the emergency room.

Texas AG Paxton requested that the court place an injunction on Carpenter to prevent her from mailing abortion pills into Texas, and fine her $100,000 for each violation of the law.

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“In this case, an out-of-state doctor violated the law and caused serious harm to this patient. This doctor prescribed abortion-inducing drugs — unauthorized, over telemedicine — causing her patient to end up in the hospital with serious complications,” he said in a press release. “In Texas, we treasure the health and lives of mothers and babies, and this is why out-of-state doctors may not illegally and dangerously prescribe abortion-inducing drugs to Texas residents.”

Carpenter did not appear in Texas for the hearing, and Collin County District Judge Bryan Gantt ruled that she did violate Texas state law. He placed an injunction against her and fined her $100,000, plus another $13,000 attorneys’ fees and court costs plus interest.

New York officials quickly moved to use their state's "shield law" protecting abortionists to prevent Carpenter from being held accountable for her illegal actions.

Acting Ulster County Clerk Taylor Bruck refused to file a summary judgment against her, with James praising Bruck for “doing what is right," adding, “We will not allow anyone to undermine health care providers’ ability to deliver necessary care to their patients.”

Carpenter is also facing charges in Louisiana for mailing abortion pills to a mother who coerced her minor daughter into an abortion. Like the woman in Texas, the young girl experienced serious complications.

The Details:

James sent a letter to Justice David Gandin of the Ulster County Supreme Court to inform him she would be personally intervening in the case.

“Texas has no authority in New York, and no power to impose its cruel abortion ban here,” James said in a statement. “Our shield law exists to protect New Yorkers from out-of-state extremists, and New York will always stand strong as a safe haven for health care and freedom of choice.”

letter from NY AG Letitia James — Letter from Office of NY AG Letitia James to Justice Gandin

Paxton, meanwhile, vowed to keep fighting to hold Carpenter accountable. “No matter where she hides, our pro-life laws will be enforced, and justice will be served,” he said.

That James would personally intervene in defense of a law-breaking abortionist is not entirely surprising; she has become known for her pro-abortion extremism, even launching an assault against pregnancy resource centers (PRCs) over 'abortion pill reversal' treatment.

Even after the United States District Court for the Western District of New York ruled against James and in favor of PRCs, she said she would appeal to a higher court in hopes of being able to continue her attack.

The Bottom Line:

New York has turned itself into one of the most pro-abortion states in the country, and AG Letitia James has made it clear that she is abortion's number one defender — even if an abortionist commits a crime or harms women.

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