Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Wednesday that he is blocking Louisiana’s attempt to extradite a California doctor accused of mailing abortion pills.
The move comes after Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, a Republican, initiated extradition paperwork to bring the doctor, Dr. Rémy Coeytaux, to Louisiana for prosecution.
Governor Newsom cited his legal authority to reject the request, emphasizing that California will not assist other states in prosecuting individuals for providing reproductive health care that is legal in California. Newsom stated, “We will not allow extremist politicians from other states to reach into California and try to punish doctors based on allegations that they provided reproductive health care services. Not today. Not ever.”
The extradition request is part of a broader legal battle between states with strict anti-abortion laws and those with protective measures for reproductive rights. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill accused Dr. Coeytaux of illegally mailing abortion-inducing drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol, to a Louisiana woman. Murrill labeled the actions as “drug dealing” and claimed they placed women in danger.
Newsom’s decision aligns with California’s stance on reproductive rights, especially following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade. California is one of eight states with shield laws that protect health care providers and patients from out-of-state investigations and prosecutions related to abortion and gender-affirming care.
The case highlights the growing tension between states with near-total abortion bans and those that offer protections for reproductive health care providers. Newsom reiterated his commitment to protecting reproductive rights, stating, “We will never be complicit with Trump’s war on women.”
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