Justice Department Sues Texas Over Abortion Law

Attorney General Merrick Garland (C) speaks as Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco (L) and Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta (R) listen during a news conference to announce a civil enforcement action at the Department of Justice on September 9, 2021 in Washington, DC. Attorney General Garland said the Department of Justice is filing a lawsuit against the state of Texas over the state’s restrictive law to ban almost all abortions.

Photo: Getty Images

The Justice Department is suing Texas over a controversial new abortion law. Attorney General Merrick Garland said the law is "clearly unconstitutional" under longstanding U.S. Supreme Court precedent. The high court recently declined to block implementation of the Texas law, which bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.

Garland said many women do not even suspect they may be pregnant until after six weeks. He also noted the measure offers no exceptions for rape or incest.

Garland ripped a provision of the law, offering rewards for information about possible abortions. He warned it could prompt actions by would-be "bounty hunters." Garland also expressed concern that other Republican-led states could follow suit with similar laws.