Liberal Prosecutors Say They Won’t Enforce Abortion Bans

Liberal prosecutors in red states have pledged to not enforce abortion bans that could be enacted in the likely event that the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade and allows states to restrict abortions.

Several state and local attorneys general have made public commitments to decline prosecuting individuals who break abortion laws by providing or receiving abortions. If justices strike down Roe, after a leaked draft opinion revealed May 2 that they likely would, states will have more leeway to restrict abortions throughout pregnancy.

Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney Steve Descano of Virginia pledged to never prosecute women for abortions in a May 22 op-ed for The New York Times.

“Almost two and a half years ago, I took my oath of office as prosecutor and swore to protect my community from those who broke the law,” he wrote. “The real threat, I now realize, may stem from those who write the law.”

The night the leaked draft opinion was made public, Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk said he wouldn’t prosecute women who get abortions or doctors who perform them, according to News Channel 5 Nashville.