A coalition of pregnancy resource centers (PRCs) in the state of New York preemptively filed a lawsuit against the state’s attorney general, Letitia James, on April 30. The lawsuit comes just days after James sent a letter to the centers noting that she would be suing them for “misleading statements” regarding the so-called “abortion pill reversal” protocol.
The Thomas More Society is representing the PRCs, including CompassCare and Heartbeat International, in the case Heartbeat, …CompassCare, et al v James. James sent a letter to 10 of the state’s PRCs on April 22, in which she indicated that she would be suing to stop them from promoting the “abortion pill reversal” protocol, which utilizes high doses of progesterone to outcompete the anti-progesterone effects of the mifepristone abortion pill. (Live Action News has reported many times on the protocol, and on progesterone’s longtime use, safety, and efficacy).
James’ threat mimics that of California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who launched a war against PRCs in his own state last September. In its suit, the Thomas More Society is contending that “[James’] threatened prosecution and intimidation of pregnancy help organizations violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution, the New York Constitution, and state civil rights law.”
READ: ACOG bulletin shows pro-abortion doctors know progesterone can interfere with abortion pill
“This is a political witch-hunt against small nonprofits that have selflessly served New York’s pregnant women and their children for over 50 years. Letitia James should be heralding these charities, not launching outrageously false claims against them under laws that don’t apply to their noncommercial speech,” said Peter Breen, Thomas More Society Executive Vice President & Head of Litigation.
“For decades, doctors have been prescribing supplemental progesterone for pregnant women at serious risk for miscarriage—but because this safe and long-established practice may actually reverse abortions, ideologues like Letitia James now want to squelch it,” Breen continued. “We will fight back as long as it takes against Ms. James’ efforts to jeopardize the Christian and life-affirming missions of Heartbeat International, CompassCare, and all similar pro-life ministries in the State of New York.”
“The actions of the New York Attorney General should be a major red flag for all Americans, wherever they stand in the abortion debate,” warned Rev. Jim Harden, CEO of CompassCare. “Conspiring to violate the constitutional rights of the politically disfavored sets an ominous precedent and, if allowed to stand, will only serve to dismantle American rule of law.”
