US Justice Department sues Texas over restrictive abortion law
The US Justice Department filed suit against Texas on Thursday over a law that bans abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, following through on a pledge by President Joe Biden to fight restrictions on the procedure in the Republican-ruled state. "The (Texas) act is clearly unconstitutional," Attorney General Merrick Garland told reporters."This kind of scheme to nullify the Constitution of the United States is one that all Americans, whatever their politics or party, should fear," he said.
The Supreme Court, in a landmark 1973 case known as Roe v. Wade, enshrined a woman's right to an abortion but Republican-led conservative states, notably in the south, have sought to roll back abortion through legislation. The courts have regularly blocked the attempts to restrict access to abortion, but a Supreme Court shifted to the right by Donald Trump refused to block the Texas law, setting the stage for the Justice Department intervention.
The "Texas Heartbeat Act," which took effect September 1, bans abortion once a heartbeat can be detected, which usually takes place at six weeks - before many women even know they are pregnant - and makes no exceptions for rape or incest.The bill passed by Republican lawmakers in the country's second largest state allows members of the public to sue doctors who perform abortions after six weeks or anyone who facilitates the procedure.
"Thus far, the law has had its intended effect," Garland said. "Because the statute makes it too risky for an abortion clinic to stay open, abortion providers have ceased providing services."This leaves women in Texas unable to exercise their constitutional rights.
