After an Arizona judge ruled to reinstate a near-total ban on abortion first enacted in 1864, the top attorney in the state’s most populous county won’t prosecute women undergoing surgery. said.
In a video posted to Twitter on Tuesday, Republican Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell argued the ban would run counter to existing state law, and she seeks court “guidance” before filing a more than 150-year-old lawsuit. Said. – Old law.
Republicans like Mitchell can read tea leaves. They have seen voters oppose strict abortion measures.
“Friday’s Pima County Superior Court decision on abortion and subsequent appeals do not resolve which of the conflicting laws currently applies,” Mitchell said. downplayed concerns about abortion restrictions, claiming he had not yet asked her to file an abortion case.
But what if law enforcement seeks to charge her?
“If no additional guidance is provided by the court or Congress by that time, my office will seek guidance from the court before taking action,” Mitchell said.
“I know this is a very emotional issue and I want the community to know that we are not going to prosecute a woman for having an abortion and that a woman should be prosecuted for her decision.” There are no laws even suggesting that they be sexually abused,” she added. ”
Notably, Mitchell’s statement says nothing about doctors who provide abortions, which face prosecution. We are now encouraging women to flee the state if they want an abortion..
Mitchell you may remember Handpicked Republican prosecutors to interrogate women who accused then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh His confirmation hearing is set for re-election this fall in increasingly liberal Maricopa County. The reference to those she “scares” could be a passing reference to her Democratic opponent Julie Gannigle, who has focused heavily on abortion rights. and Mitchell’s uncommitted stance on whether to support them — her entire campaign.
After Mitchell released the video, Ganigur criticized her for not being clear about whether and how she would enforce the law.
Republicans like Mitchell can read tea leaves. They have seen voters revolt against draconian abortion measures, including in ostensibly conservative states like Kansas. We try not to soften our stance or share our opinions.
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors appointed Mitchell in April after the county attorney resigned the previous month. A special election in November will determine whether she continues in that office.
She clearly knows that her stance on abortion is a liability when voters first consider her suitability for the job. It was meant to allay concerns ahead of the election, but given what we already know about her political ties, no one should take her word for it.
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