Justice Department launches task force seeking to protect abortion rights
CBSDec 20, 2022
The Facts
The Dept. of Justice (DOJ) announced Tues. that it's creating a "Reproductive Rights Task Force," to be chaired by Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, to protect abortion access in the aftermath of Roe v. Wade being overturned.
The task force will monitor state abortion regulations in terms of limiting a person's ability to seek reproductive care, banning abortion-inducing drugs, or imposing criminal or civil penalties on federal employees who provide reproductive health services that are legal under federal law.
The Spin
Republican narrative
The Biden administration is using federal departments to infringe on what is now a state power to protect innocent unborn children. They're trying to delegitimize SCOTUS, while also drumming up anger they think will help them in the midterms this fall, but it's all unconstitutional.
Democratic narrative
Biden is continuing to take as many actions as possible to secure abortion rights in the horror of a post-Roe country. This task force will clarify what rights related to abortion can be federally protected, and will provide legal firepower advocacy organizations can use in the courts - even though it's understood that more needs to be done.