President Biden on Friday criticized the new Texas abortion law for creating "a sort of vigilante system" because its abortion ban is to be enforced by citizens who can sue anyone who may have aided an abortion. The president said the Justice Department is examining whether it can limit the action of citizens enforcing the state law.
The Supreme Court earlier this week declined to halt Texas' new law banning abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, around six weeks, and allowing private citizens to sue people they believe have aided in the process of an abortion that takes place more than six weeks into a woman's pregnancy. Private citizens who successfully sue over violations of the law are to be awarded at least $10,000. Democrats are decrying the 5-4 Supreme Court decision.
"I have been and continue to be a strong supporter of Roe v. Wade, number one," the president told reporters Friday when he was asked about his message to women in Texas. "And the most pernicious thing about the Texas law, it sort of creates a vigilante system where people get rewards to go out to — anyway."
The president said the law seems "almost un-American," emphasizing that he isn't referring to people who believe life begins at conception and respects that belief even though he doesn't share it.
"I was told there are possibilities within the existing law to have the Justice Department look and see whether there are things that can be done that can limit the independent action of individuals in enforcing a federal — a state law," the president continued. "I don't know enough to give you an answer yet, I've asked that to be checked."
After the Supreme Court allowed the law to take effect, Mr. Biden said he would be launching a "whole-of-government effort to respond to this decision," and tasked the White House's counsel's office and his Gender Policy Council to determine what the federal government can do.
It's still unclear what the executive branch can do to intervene, though. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said she will bring a bill to the floor later this month to try to enshrine a right to an abortion into federal law. While such a bill may pass in the House, it almost certainly would be blocked in the Senate.
— CBS News' Melissa Quinn contributed to this report.
johndoped on September 3rd, 2021 at 18:14 UTC »
It feels like half of the people watching Handmaids Tale were horrified and the other half were taking notes. Support an insurrection, check, deny science, check, talk about the sanctity of life while intentionally hurting people, check.
BagoFresh on September 3rd, 2021 at 17:47 UTC »
It's actually worse, because hundreds of people can sue the every target. Once one person files a suit, everyone can pile on. Everyone even targeted will be financially destroyed no matter what the outcome of the lawsuits are. I wouldn't even consider trying to have a child at this point in Texas. Every person remoted affiliated with anyone who miscarries is at risk for near instant financial ruin.
Edit: woman can't be sued. Pretty much everyone she talks to or gets a service from can, though.
Beanes813 on September 3rd, 2021 at 17:45 UTC »
Republicans break shit and Democrats speak the obvious. It would be nice if someone actually did something to stop these narcissistic, sanctimonious misogynist abusers.