New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo was lucky to have been overshadowed by his counterpart in Virginia a few weeks back. Cuomo had just signed an extreme pro-abortion bill in the Empire State, one that would permit abortions up to 24 weeks. It was the biggest news of the week for the pro-life movement, until Virginia House of Delegates member Kathy Tran introduced a measure that would have allowed abortion up until birth. Gov. Northam not only applauded her effort, but told a radio station that it is up to women and their doctors whether or not to save a baby that had survived an abortion.
A murder case in New York has again refocused our eyes on Cuomo's Reproductive Health Act. Anthony Hobson, 48, was arrested and charged last week with second-degree murder and abortion charges after stabbing his girlfriend Jennifer Irigoyen to death. She was 14 weeks pregnant. In court, Hobson's defense team argued against the abortion charge by citing the governor's new legislation. Queens district attorney Richard A. Brown was forced to acknowledge it.
"Queens district attorney, Richard A. Brown, cited the Reproductive Health Act as the reason for dropping an abortion charge against a man who the police say fatally stabbed his former girlfriend when she was 14 weeks pregnant."
Prosecutors did end up dropping the second-degree abortion charge because the bill removed the crime from the state penal code.
Pro-life leaders are disturbed that the bill was cited in the case.
Thanks to the #RHA, it’s open season on pregnant women in New York. #abortion #prolife @nys4life @NYSCatholicConf https://t.co/8wClTI1j7j
— Dennis Poust (@DennisPoust) February 10, 2019
Despicable: Thanks to New York's new law, a man accused of murdering his five-month pregnant girlfriend won't be charged for her baby's death. https://t.co/L4Wa5L5KO7
— Live Action (@LiveAction) February 11, 2019
When Cuomo signed the Reproductive Health Act into law in January, the chamber rose to applaud. He also lit the One World Trade Center in pink to celebrate.
President Trump hosted Cuomo in the Oval Office on Tuesday. Hopefully he challenged the governor on his radical agenda.