The Biden administration is taking action against Texas for the newly-enacted “heartbeat” abortion bill that essentially outlaws all abortions. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced a federal lawsuit to fight the new law. Garland argued that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has a "duty" to defend the constitution, which he says the restrictive abortion law violates "in open defiance."
“The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the state of Texas,” AG Garland said at a press conference on Thursday. “SB8 bans nearly all abortions in the state after 6 weeks of pregnancy. Before women even know they are pregnant, and months before a pregnancy is viable. It does so even in cases of rape or sexual abuse, and incest.”
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announces a federal lawsuit against the state of Texas over its new fetal heartbeat abortion bill SB8. pic.twitter.com/GXsZyyB61X
— The Recount (@therecount) September 9, 2021
He added that the new law in Texas incentivizes citizens to act as "bounty hunters," referring to a provision that offers a $10,000 reward to those who turn in individuals involved with abortions.
U.S. AG Merrick Garland says the TX abortion law allows private citizens to act as ‘bounty hunters’ pic.twitter.com/nhq7svY8XZ
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) September 9, 2021
The Supreme Court allowed the law to stand, for now, by a 5-4 ruling issued last week. The justices made clear that this ruling was not a final ruling on the law's constitutionality, which is still in question. In addition to the lawsuit by the DOJ, President Joe Biden vowed to launch a "whole of government" approach to fight the law.