(WASHINGTON) — Ali Alexander, the conservative activist behind the “Stop the Steal” movement, appeared Friday before a federal grand jury investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, Alexander’s attorney confirmed to ABC News.
Alexander provided nearly three hours of testimony to one of the grand juries impaneled in the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., as part of the Department of Justice’s criminal probe into the events of Jan. 6, Alexander’s attorney, Paul Kamenar, said.
The appearance came six months after Alexander testified before the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack.
In a written statement on Friday, Alexander said that several months ago he received a grand jury subpoena from the U.S. Attorney’s office “requesting essentially the same documents I turned over to the January 6 Committee and to testify.”
“I was assured that I was not a target but a fact witness,” Alexander said in the statement. “I provided the documents requested and suggested they obtain my full transcript of my testimony from the January 6 Committee. They responded then that they cannot obtain those transcripts due to separation of powers and thus, they needed me to repeat my testimony here today.”
Alexander, who organized a series of “Stop the Steal” rallies in the months leading up to Jan. 6, was at the U.S. Capitol during the attack but has said he was only there to de-escalate the conflict, and that his comments at rallies and on livestreams leading up to the riot have been taken out of context and misconstrued as encouraging violence.
“I did not plan or participate in any illegal activity, and in fact, pleaded with protestors not to enter the Capitol,” he said in Friday’s statement.
On Dec. 9, Alexander spent eight hours taking questions from the House Jan. 6 committee on everything from his organization’s finances to his communications with Republican officials. Afterward Alexander described the tone of the questions as “absolutely adversarial,” but said he was “truthful” with the committee.
Later that month, ABC News reported that Alexander had told congressional investigators that he had communicated with several House Republican lawmakers ahead of the Jan. 6 rally and Capitol riot, along with at least one member of the Trump family’s inner circle. Alexander disclosed his communications in a lawsuit he filed challenging the panel from obtaining his phone records from Verizon.
Alexander disclosed his communications in a lawsuit he filed trying to prevent the panel from obtaining his phone records from Verizon.
“I am challenging in court the Select Committee’s unlawful subpoena to Verizon to fish through my phone records and those of one of my volunteers whose only ‘crime’ was to exercise her First Amendment rights to pass out a few signs at the rallies, sing patriotic songs, and pray,” Alexander said in Friday’s statement.
(SURFSIDE, Fla.) — First lady Jill Biden spoke Friday morning at the site of the Champlain Towers South condominium collapse in Surfside, Florida, on the one-year anniversary of the tragedy.
Joining Biden at the event were Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, local officials, and religious leaders.
“We honor the light you found in each other,” she said, recognizing the communal strength of the grieving families.
In the early morning hours of June 24, 2021, the Surfside condominium collapsed, killing 98 people.
Biden offered her personal experience with grief, while speaking to community members and loved ones of those lost in the disaster.
She spoke about a “fellowship of loss” she said she recognizes in society. “To the uninitiated we look normal, average, whole,” said Biden, who lost her stepson, Beau, to brain cancer in 2015. “But like a secret handshake, I can spot them by the sadness that rests at the corner of their smile …”
Biden noted the “moments of grace” that come along with grief. “We find a fortitude that we didn’t know we had and we reach out for help,” she said.
The first lady thanked first responders and said she and President Joe Biden continue to stand with the south Florida community.
She concluded on a positive note, telling grieving loved ones, “Take it one breath at a time. We are praying for you and we are grieving with you. God bless you.”
DeSantis, who sat just to the right of the first lady, followed her remarks with his own account of the collapse one year ago to the day.
He announced the designation of the portion of Collins Avenue where the tower once stood as “98 Points of Light Road” and held a street sign with the newly assigned name.
During a court hearing in May, it was announced that a settlement for the victims now tops $1 billion.
(NEW YORK) — Major U.S. companies, including Meta and JPMorgan Chase, on Friday said they will cover travel costs for employees who seek legal abortions outside their home state after the Supreme Court released a ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade.
Several corporations in recent weeks, including Amazon and Starbucks, had announced expanded health benefits to pay for travel fees incurred by workers seeking an abortion if the procedure is unavailable near where they live.
JPMorgan Chase, one of the nation’s largest banks, informed U.S. employees that it will cover the costs of travel for those seeking an abortion who cannot access the procedure legally in their home state, according to a memo sent to employees on June 1 and obtained by ABC News.
The company will begin covering the travel next month, according to a company web page that details the policy. The JPMorgan Chase memo was first reported by CNBC.
A spokesperson for Meta, the parent company of Facebook, confirmed to ABC News that it plans to offer similar coverage of travel expenses for some employees seeking abortion.
“We intend to offer travel expense reimbursements, to the extent permitted by law, for employees who will need them to access out-of-state health care and reproductive services,” a spokesperson said. “We are in the process of assessing how best to do so given the legal complexities involved.”
Tesla, Citigroup, Apple and Salesforce are among the additional companies that in recent weeks expanded abortion coverage for employees to include costs for travel when necessary.
Meanwhile, rideshare companies Lyft and Uber have vowed to provide legal support for drivers if they face lawsuits for driving passengers to get an abortion.
“We believe access to healthcare is essential and transportation should never be a barrier to that access,” a Lyft spokesperson told ABC News in a statement on Friday after the ruling. “This decision will hurt millions of women by taking away access to safe, and private reproductive healthcare services.”
Lauren Hobart, the president and CEO of retailer Dick’s Sporting Goods, said on Friday that the company will provide up to $4,000 to cover the cost of travel for employees — as well as their spouses or dependents — who must travel out of state for an abortion. The company refers to its employees as teammates.
“We recognize people feel passionately about this topic — and that there are teammates and athletes who will not agree with this decision,” Hobart said in a statement. “However, we also recognize that decisions involving health and families are deeply personal and made with thoughtful consideration.”
On Friday morning, the Supreme Court released a 5-4 vote that struck down Roe v. Wade, a 1973 decision that guaranteed a constitutional right to an abortion. In the opinion, Justice Samuel Alito called Roe “egregiously wrong from the start.”
Some business leaders on Friday criticized the Supreme Court ruling and called on their peers to do the same.
Jeremy Stoppelman — the co-founder and CEO of Yelp, which recently announced it will cover the travel expenses for employees seeking abortions — on Friday slammed the decision.
“This ruling puts women’s health in jeopardy, denies them their human rights, and threatens to dismantle the progress we’ve made toward gender equality in the workplace since Roe,” Stoppelman said in a statement shared with ABC News.
“Business leaders must step up to support the health and safety of their employees by speaking out against the wave of abortion bans that will be triggered as a result of this decision, and call on Congress to codify Roe into law,” he added.
Ellevest CEO Sallie Krawcheck, whose company makes an investing app targeted to women, said the ruling carries negative economic implications in addition to its effects on gender equity.
“As CEO of a financial company built for women, by women — with a team of more than 80% women employees — I know the importance of being able to take control of our money, our choices, and our futures,” Krawcheck said on Twitter.
“Reproductive health care access is a human rights issue, but as we’ve seen time and time again, that doesn’t seem like it’s enough to sway certain people with the power to uphold that right,” she added. “How about this: Reproductive rights affect all of us — because it affects our economy.”
The Supreme Court ruling comprises an attack on reproductive rights, said Roger Lynch, CEO of Conde Nast, which on Friday told employees it would bolster health coverage to include travel expenses for those seeking an abortion.
“Today, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion, allowing individual states to more aggressively regulate or ban the procedure altogether,” he said in the memo to employees. “It is a crushing blow to reproductive rights that have been protected for nearly half a century.”
(NEW YORK) — The federal case against Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani, a former Theranos executive accused of defrauding investors and patients, is now in the hands of a jury.
Prosecutors and lawyers for Balwani — the ex-boyfriend of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes — wrapped up their closing arguments on Friday following several weeks of witness testimony.
The jury is expected to begin its deliberations on Friday.
Prosecutors say Balwani and Holmes, who touted her startup’s technology as capable of accurately and reliably running any blood test, fraudulently raised hundreds of millions of dollars from investors.
Money poured in, but the miniature blood-testing device, dubbed the “Edison,” could never run more than 12 tests, government attorneys said.
Balwani joined the company in 2009, guaranteeing a $10 million loan and quickly rising to the post of president and COO of Theranos. While his attorneys sought to distinguish his position in the company from the CEO, Holmes, prosecutors say he played an equal role in the fraud.
“I am responsible for everything at Theranos. All have been my decisions too,” read a text message from Balwani to Holmes in July 2015, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Schenk presented to the jury in his final argument.
“Of course [Balwani] had a hand in making the decisions at Theranos,” defense attorney Jeff Coopersmith said during his closing argument.
But, Coopersmith, said in meetings with investors and others, “everyone was listening to Elizabeth Holmes.” The company was her vision, he added, and Balwani had bought in.
“Mr. Balwani is not a victim. He’s a perpetrator of the fraud,” the prosecutor, Schenk, said to wrap up his remarks.
The feds originally charged Balwani and Holmes together. But their trials were later severed after Holmes revealed she may testify to abuse at the hands of Balwani. She was convicted in January of four counts of fraud related to investors. She is expected to be sentenced in September.
Balwani faces similar charges: 10 counts of wire fraud and two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted on just one count.
Wayne Kaatz, a juror on the Holmes case, told ABC News in an exclusive interview earlier this year that his group of 12 jurors convicted Holmes, in part, because “everything went through her,” he said. “She had final approval.”
He also revealed his team found Holmes’ testimony largely not credible. Balwani, in his trial, did not take the stand.
(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Supreme Court has overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade decision in a much-anticipated ruling Friday in one of its biggest decisions this term.
The court voted 5-4, largely along party lines, to overturn Roe and 6-3, in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which involved Mississippi’s ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
It appeared that the panel’s conservative majority of justices was ready to overturn nearly 50 years of established abortion rights after last month’s leaked draft decision indicated as much.
Jun 24, 3:03 pm
Leading health care providers expect ripple effects from SCOTUS decision
Leading health care providers in reproductive and women’s health condemned the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, warning that it affects patient safety and infringes on patient privacy.
The American Society for Training and Development released a statement that the decision “removes an essential civil liberty.”
“Decisions about healthcare, particularly reproductive healthcare, should be made by patients and physicians, not by interest groups, religious organizations, politicians, pundits, or Supreme Court Justices,” said Dr. Marcelle Cedars, the president of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, a leader in reproductive medicine research.
The American Academy of Family Physicians said that the decision endangers the patient-physician relationship and potentially “criminalizes evidence-based medical care.”
“Allowing each state to pass their own laws regarding access to reproductive health care, including abortion services and contraception, exacerbates inequities in the health care system,” said Dr. Sterling Ransone, the president of the AAFP.
Also, the nation’s largest union of nurses spoke out and called the policy “immoral, discriminatory, misogynist, violent [and] unacceptable,” according to the statement released by National Nurses United.
The American Academy of Pediatrics said the consequences of the decision are “grave” for adolescent patients.
In addition, the largest medical speciality organization in the United States, the American College of Physicians, called the decision a “major setback” that erodes “the constitutional right to privacy.”
“We strongly oppose medically unnecessary government restrictions on any health care services,” said Dr. Ryan Mire, the president of ACP.
-Eric M. Strauss
Jun 24, 2:44 pm
West Virginia’s only abortion clinic says it’s stopping procedures immediately
The only abortion clinic in West Virginia announced it is no longer performing abortions as of Friday after the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade.
In a statement on Facebook, the Women’s Health Center of West Virginia said it is not performing the procedure anymore due to “criminal code from 1882 that criminalizes abortion for both the provider and patient with a felony prison sentence up [to] 10 years.”
Abortion is still legal in West Virginia but a state constitutional amendment bars the protection of the right to an abortion. It’s unclear if the 1882 law immediately goes into effect now that Roe has been overturned.
However, the clinic vowed that it “will not stop fighting for the abortion rights of every West Virginian.”
It comes after Gov. Jim Justice praised the court’s decision and said he would call a special session if a consultation with the Legislature determined clarification in the state’s laws is needed.
Jun 24, 1:40 pm
McCarthy says Republicans to propose anti-abortion legislation if they retake the House
House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said Republicans would put anti-abortion legislation on the House floor next year if they retake the chamber in this year’s midterm elections.
“We now have a voice for all life,” McCarthy said during a press conference with House Republicans Friday.
Asked what he would say to Attorney General Merrick Garland if he didn’t prosecute people who do not follow their state’s abortion laws, McCarthy said, “In less than 140 days things are gonna change here.”
“He will have now a Congress that will call him up. He will now have the ability of the Congress to have oversight. He will now have a Congress that will hold him accountable,” McCarthy said.
Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., also plans to introduce a 15-week abortion ban in the coming weeks.
Jun 24, 1:28 pm
Trump applauds Supreme Court decision
Former President Donald Trump applauded the Supreme Court’s ruling in a statement, calling it “the biggest WIN for LIFE in a generation.”
Additionally, in an exclusive interview with Fox News, the former president praised “giving everything back to the states, where it has always belonged.”
“This is following the Constitution, and giving rights back when they should have been given long ago,” Trump told Fox News.
In response to any of his supporters who advocate for abortion rights, Trump told Fox News that “this is something that will work out for everybody.”
During his presidency, Trump appointed three conservative justices to the Supreme Court. He noted in his statement the ruling was “only made possible because I delivered everything as promised.”
When asked by Fox News whether he feels like he made a difference in the decision to overturn Roe, he said, “God made the decision.”
Jun 24, 1:25 pm
President Biden says court decision is ‘sad day’ for the US
President Joe Biden criticized the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade Friday.
“It’s a sad day for the court and the country. Today the Supreme Court of the United States expressly took away a constitutional right from the American people that it had already recognized,” Biden said in delivered remarks from the White House.
He added, “They didn’t limit it, they simply took it away. That’s never been done to a right so important to so many Americans but they did it.”
-ABC News’ Alexandra Hutzler
Jun 24, 1:12 pm
Sen. Susan Collins says court decision is inconsistent with justices’ testimony
Republican Sen. Susan Collins condemned the court decision, saying Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch’s votes did not align with their testimony during their confirmation hearings.
“This decision is inconsistent with what Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh said in their testimony and their meetings with me, where they both were insistent on the importance of supporting long-standing precedents that the country has relied upon,” Collins said.
Collins voted for Kavanaugh and Gorsuch to serve on the court, for which she faced criticism because of concerns about how their appointments might impact a women’s right to choose.
Collins is one of two GOP Senators who is on the records supporting efforts to codify a woman’s right to choose.
“The Supreme Court has abandoned a fifty-year precedent at a time that the country is desperate for stability. This ill-considered action will further divide the country at a moment when, more than ever in modern times, we need the Court to show both consistency and restraint,” Collins said.
Adding, “Throwing out a precedent overnight that the country has relied upon for half a century is not conservative. It is a sudden and radical jolt to the country that will lead to political chaos, anger, and a further loss of confidence in our government.”
Jun 24, 1:11 pm
Governors respond to SCOTUS decision
Democratic and Republican governors across the U.S. responded to the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, railed against the ruling but vowed that abortion access is still protected in the state.
“Today, the Supreme Court took away the right of millions of Americans to make decisions about their own bodies,” she said in a statement. “This decision is a grave injustice. I want everyone to know that abortion remains safe, accessible, and legal in New York.”
In neighboring New Jersey, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy referred to the decision as “backwards” and “appalling.”
“In New Jersey, women will always have full autonomy over their own bodies and the right to make their own medical decisions,” he said in a statement.
Michigan Gov, Gretchen Whitmer, also a Democrat, reflected those sentiments,
adding, “I want every Michigander to know that I am more determined than ever to protect access to safe, legal abortion. I’ll never stop fighting.”
Meanwhile, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott said the Supreme Court made the correct decision in overruling the 1973 decision.
“The Supreme Court correctly overturns Roe v. Wade & reinstates the right of states to protect innocent, unborn children,” he said in a statement. “Texas is a pro-life state. We will ALWAYS fight to save every child from the ravages of abortion.”
Similarly, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, also a Republican, said in a statement, “The Supreme Court of the United States has rightfully returned power to the people and their elected representatives in the states. I’m proud to be a pro-life Governor and plan to take every action I can to protect life.”
Jun 24, 1:02 pm
Tensions run high outside Mississippi abortion clinic at center of court case after ruling
Clinic workers and anti-abortion rights activists shouted at each other and grew more angry outside the Mississippi abortion clinic at the center of the Supreme Court case.
One clinic worker was seen going inside because she was so emotional. The worker was in tears as she tried to hold up a sign that said they were open. Hand-drawn signs were brought out of the clinic because anti-abortion rights activists were turning women away, telling them abortions were now illegal in the state.
Women and couples stopped their cars at the intersection because they were confused as clinic workers hastily tried to tell them they were open, but likely not for long.
A pro-abortion protester outside the clinic told ABC News the decision means they are looking at suffering and death.
“We see what’s coming. We know exactly what’s going on here. Welcome to the vulture pit. Women without needs will suffer. We’ve been answering these for years but here we are. America’s not ready for what’s about to happen with the fall of Rome,” one unnamed protestor said.
An anti-abortion protester celebrated the decision, calling it “bittersweet.”
“Certainly we’re thankful that Roe has been overturned, but our hearts still break over the millions of unborn children … aborted in this country and it’s just gonna be a struggle going to states that still allow abortion and hopefully they’ll close this clinic down as quickly as possible and we’ll move on and help other places.”
-ABC News’ Cherise Rudy and Stephanie Ramos
Jun 24, 12:49 pm
Abortion provider says it’s deploying a fleet of mobile clinics along border states
Just The Pill, a nonprofit abortion group, announced a program called Abortion Delivered and vowed to deploy a fleet of mobile clinics to offer “mobile procedural abortions” along the border of states that impose restrictions.
“By operating on state borders, we will reduce travel burdens for patients in states with bans or severe limits,” said Dr. Julie Amaon, the medical director of Just The Pill and Abortion Delivered, in a statement.
Abortion law and restrictions vary by state. Some states have trigger laws in place that immediately ban abortion once the federal protection of Roe was overturned.
While state rules can differ, FDA regulations say women can be prescribed medical abortion pills by a certified provider at up to 10 weeks of pregnancy and take them at home.
“We are undaunted. We will bring care to the people who most need it, and we will defy reproductive repression by providing more affordable and accessible care,” said Amaon.
Jun 24, 12:46 pm
JPMorgan Chase to cover employee travel for abortion
JPMorgan Chase, one of the nation’s largest banks, has informed U.S. employees that it will cover the costs of travel for those seeking an abortion who cannot access the procedure legally in their home state, according to a memo sent to employees on June 1 and obtained by ABC News.
The company will begin covering the travel next month, according to a company web page that details the policy.
Several corporations in recent weeks, including Amazon and Starbucks, have announced expanded health benefits to pay for travel fees incurred by workers seeking an abortion if the procedure is unavailable near where they live.
Yelp, Tesla, Citigroup, Apple and Salesforce have also expanded abortion coverage in recent weeks for employees to include costs for travel when necessary.
The JPMorgan Chase memo was first reported by CNBC.
Jun 24, 12:39 pm
AG Merrick Garland says DOJ ‘strongly disagrees’ with ruling, will protect rights
Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Department of Justice “strong disagrees” with the Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday, and added his department “will work tirelessly to protect and advance reproductive freedom.”
He outlined several steps the department will take in furthering that goal, including protecting access to health care in states where abortion remains legal, supporting Congress’ efforts “to codify Americans’ reproductive rights” and work to protect access to mifepristone, the so-called abortion pill.
“The Supreme Court has eliminated an established right that has been an essential component of women’s liberty for half a century — a right that has safeguarded women’s ability to participate fully and equally in society,” Garland wrote in a statement.
Garland was nominated to the Supreme Court by former President Barack Obama in 2016 to fill the late Justice Antonin Scalia’s seat but never received a vote because Republicans refused to take it up.
-ABC News’ Alex Mallin
Jun 24, 12:18 pm
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists condemns ruling
Dr. Iffath A. Hoskins, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Supreme Court decision is “a direct blow to bodily autonomy, reproductive health, patient safety and health equity in the United States.”
“The restrictions put forth are not based on science nor medicine; they allow unrelated third parties to make decisions that rightfully and ethically should be made only by individuals and their physicians,” Hoskins said.
She said the decision will disproportionately impact people already facing barriers to health care and that laws will make people face possible risks of pregnancy, including “the morbidity and mortality associated with childbirth.”
“The principle of shared decision-making is founded on respect for peoples’ expertise in their own bodies and lives and clinicians’ expertise in science and medicine,” Hoskins said. “There is no room within the sanctuary of the patient-physician relationship for individual lawmakers who wish to impose their personal religious or ideological views on others.”
Jun 24, 12:16 pm
NAACP says SCOTUS decision will ‘disproportionately impact Black women and lower-income communities of color’
Following the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, leaders from racial justice groups are expressing outrage.
“Today’s Supreme Court decision marks a significant regression of our country. As a legal professional, I am astounded by this decision. As a Black woman, I am outraged,” said Janette McCarthy Wallace, general counsel for the NAACP, in part of a statement.
“There is no denying the fact that this is a direct attack on all women and Black women stand to be disproportionately impacted by the court’s egregious assault on basic human rights,” she said.
Portia White, the policy and legislative affairs vice president for the NAACP, encouraged Americans to “fight back” by voting.
“If you’re not registered to vote, or know someone who isn’t, now is the moment. This is no time for anyone to sit on the sidelines,” White wrote in part of a statement.
Jun 24, 12:04 pm
NARAL Pro-Choice America condemns court decision, calling it ‘worst-case scenario’
Mini Timmaraju, president of pro-abortion group NARAL, called the court’s decision “the worst-case scenario” and warned the anti-abortion movement and its political allies want to enact a nationwide ban on abortion.
“The impact on the real lives of real people will be devastating. The Supreme Court has given the green light to extremist state lawmakers who will waste no time springing into action to put in place total bans on abortion,” Timmaraju said in a statement.
“But it is not the end of this fight. The 8 in 10 Americans who support the legal right to abortion will not let this stand. There is an election in November, and extremist politicians will learn: when you come for our rights, we come for your seats,” Timmaraju said.
Jun 24, 12:04 pm
Capitol Police says demonstrators can protest near SCOTUS
Capitol Police said in a tweet Friday that demonstrators can protest near the Supreme Court but must listen to police instruction.
“Demonstrators are gathering on Capitol Grounds, near the U.S. Supreme Court.” the tweet read.
“Protesters are allowed to peacefully demonstrate, however they must follow the officer’s instructions so that everyone stays safe.”
Jun 24, 11:45 am
Mississippi’s only abortion clinic will be forced to close after court overturns Roe
Now that the Supreme Court has overruled Roe v. Wade, Mississippi’s only abortion clinic, the clinic at the center of the court decision, will be forced to close.
The court’s decision will uphold Mississippi’s ban on abortions after 15 weeks, but the clinic will be forced to close in coming weeks when Mississippi’s trigger law takes effect, banning abortions entirely.
Women in nearby states, especially in Texas, had traveled to Jackson seeking care, with 30 to 40% of patients being from out of state.
Shannon Brewer, director of that state’s only abortion clinic still open, told ABC News ahead of the ruling that she sees a potentially more dangerous time for women, especially lower-income, minority women, grappling with unwanted or unintended pregnancies.
“No law, no court decision will stop abortion in Mississipi or anywhere. A woman who is desperate enough will try anything,” she said.
The clinic performs about 2,500 abortions a year, only up to 16 weeks into pregnancy.
-ABC News’ Devin Dwyer
Jun 24, 11:33 am
President Biden to speak at 12:30 p.m.
President Joe Biden will speak on the abortion ruling at 12:30 p.m., according to the White House.
Following the release of the draft opinion in May, Biden called abortion a “fundamental” right.
“Roe has been the law of the land for almost fifty years, and basic fairness and the stability of our law demand that it not be overturned,” Biden said in a statement at the time.
Jun 24, 11:14 am
Planned Parenthood warns all ‘freedoms are on the line’
Planned Parenthood warned Friday that the Supreme Court overturning the right to abortion is just the beginning, warning there is a threat to Americans’ rights.
“Make no mistake – if they can take away the right to abortion, a right we’ve held for nearly 50 years, they won’t stop here: All of our freedoms are on the line,” Planned Parenthood said.
The group said the court’s decision to overturn abortion rights will impact women in marginalized communities.
“Due to centuries of racism and systemic discrimination, we already know who will feel the consequences of this horrific decision most acutely: Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities, people with disabilities, those living in rural areas, young people, immigrants, and those having difficulties making ends meet,” Planned Parenthood said.
Jun 24, 11:13 am
Abortion rights groups blast ‘infuriating’ court decision
Abortion rights groups responded to the Supreme Court decision Friday overturning Roe v. Wade.
“Today, the Supreme Court eviscerated the last shreds of our national right to abortion and blatantly turned its back on our dignity,” said Morgan Hopkins, interim executive director for campaigns and strategies at All* Above All, in a statement.
She added, “The ripple effects will be felt far and wide, in every state across the country. And to be clear — today’s decision is the result of a decades-long scheme to dismantle access to abortion care.”
Dr. Ushma Upadhyay, associate professor of Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health, said the decision “will fall hardest on women of color and low-income people, who already experience extreme health disparities under a racist health care system.”
Debasri Ghosh, the managing Director at the National Network of Abortion Funds, said the decision was expected but nonetheless “infuriating.”
“The harm of abortion restrictions will now fall even harder on Black, Indigenous and people of color, people already excluded from our health care by systemic racism and economic injustice,” she added.
Jun 24, 11:10 am
Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton react to decision
Former first ladies Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton reacted to the Supreme Court decision, both condemning it.
Obama, in her statement, said repeatedly that she is “heartbroken,” including “for people around this country who just lost the fundamental right to make informed decisions about their own bodies.”
Clinton, who also served as secretary of state, said, “Today’s Supreme Court opinion will live in infamy as a step backward for women’s rights and human rights.”
“This horrifying decision will have devastating consequences,” Obama wrote in her full statement.
Jun 24, 11:02 am
March for Life says court decision is just the beginning of work to ‘protect life’
Anti-abortion group March for Life praised the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, overturning federal protections for abortion.
“Today, the ability to determine whether and when to limit abortion was returned to the American people who have every right to enact laws like Mississippi’s which protect mothers and unborn babies after 15 weeks,” March for Life said in a statement.
The group called Roe v. Wade an “unpopular and extreme” abortion policy that had been imposed on the U.S. Polling shows 58% of Americans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases.
“We are so grateful to the countless pro-life people of goodwill who contributed and sacrificed to make today possible – including the millions of those who have marched for life over the years – and we recognize that this is just the beginning of our work to advance policies that protect life. We will continue to march until abortion is unthinkable because equality begins in the womb,” March for Life said.
Jun 24, 10:55 am
Pelosi condemns Trump, Republicans in response
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi condemned Republicans in response to the Supreme Court decision, saying in a statement, “Because of Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, the Republican Party and their supermajority on the Supreme Court, American women today have less freedom than their mothers.”
Pelosi further said there would be more restrictions on reproductive health care, claiming, “Republicans want to arrest doctors for offering reproductive care and women for terminating a pregnancy. GOP extremists are even threatening to criminalize contraception, as well as in-vitro fertilization and post-miscarriage care.”
She called the ruling “outrageous and heart-wrenching.”
Jun 24, 10:54 am
Schumer calls today ‘one of darkest days our country has ever seen’
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, in a statement following the Dobbs decision, called Friday one of the “darkest days our country has ever seen” and directly blamed “MAGA Republicans” for the decision.
“These justices were intentionally appointed by Republicans to overturn Roe v. Wade and every Republican Senator knew this would happen if they voted to confirm these radical justices,” Schumer said in a statement. “These MAGA Republicans are all complicit in today’s decision and all of its consequences for women and families in this country.”
He pointed to the upcoming midterm elections and called on voters to support Democratic causes.
“Today’s decision makes crystal clear the contrast as we approach the November elections: elect more MAGA Republicans if you want nationwide abortion bans, the jailing of women and doctors and no exemptions for rape or incest. Or, elect more pro-choice Democrats to save Roe and protect a woman’s right to make their own decisions about their body, not politicians.”
-ABC News’ Allison Pecorin
Jun 24, 10:46 am
Former VP Pence praises SCOTUS decision
Former Vice President Mike Pence praised the SCOTUS decision Friday overturning Roe v. Wade.
“Today, Life Won,” Pence said in a statement. “By overturning Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court of the United States has given the American people a new beginning for life, and I commend the justices in the majority for having the courage of their convictions.”
Pence said the 6-3 decision, which overturned 50 years of precedent, “righted a historic wrong.”
He continued, “Having been given this second chance for Life, we must not rest and must not relent until the sanctity of life is restored to the center of American law in every state in the land.”
The former vice president has been a proponent of anti-abortion laws for years and has called numerous times on the court to overturn the decision.
Anti-abortion group March for Life praised the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, overturning federal protections for abortion.
“Today, the ability to determine whether and when to limit abortion was returned to the American people who have every right to enact laws like Mississippi’s which protect mothers and unborn babies after 15 weeks,” March for Life said in a statement.
The group called Roe v. Wade an “unpopular and extreme” abortion policy that had been imposed on the U.S. Polling shows 58% of Americans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases.
“We are so grateful to the countless pro-life people of goodwill who contributed and sacrificed to make today possible – including the millions of those who have marched for life over the years – and we recognize that this is just the beginning of our work to advance policies that protect life. We will continue to march until abortion is unthinkable because equality begins in the womb,” March for Life said.
Jun 24, 10:54 am
Schumer calls today ‘one of darkest days our country has ever seen’
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, in a statement following the Dobbs decision, called Friday one of the “darkest days our country has ever seen” and directly blamed “MAGA Republicans” for the decision.
“These justices were intentionally appointed by Republicans to overturn Roe v. Wade and every Republican Senator knew this would happen if they voted to confirm these radical justices,” Schumer said in a statement. “These MAGA Republicans are all complicit in today’s decision and all of its consequences for women and families in this country.”
He pointed to the upcoming midterm elections and called on voters to support Democratic causes.
“Today’s decision makes crystal clear the contrast as we approach the November elections: elect more MAGA Republicans if you want nationwide abortion bans, the jailing of women and doctors and no exemptions for rape or incest. Or, elect more pro-choice Democrats to save Roe and protect a woman’s right to make their own decisions about their body, not politicians.”
-ABC News’ Allison Pecorin
Jun 24, 10:46 am
Former VP Pence praises SCOTUS decision
Former Vice President Mike Pence praised the SCOTUS decision Friday overturning Roe v. Wade.
“Today, Life Won,” Pence said in a statement. “By overturning Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court of the United States has given the American people a new beginning for life, and I commend the justices in the majority for having the courage of their convictions.”
Pence said the 6-3 decision, which overturned 50 years of precedent, “righted a historic wrong.”
He continued, “Having been given this second chance for Life, we must not rest and must not relent until the sanctity of life is restored to the center of American law in every state in the land.”
The former vice president has been a proponent of anti-abortion laws for years and has called numerous times on the court to overturn the decision.
Jun 24, 10:45 am
Barack Obama calls decision ‘devastating’
Former President Barack Obama responded to the Supreme Court decision, saying although this opinion was expected, “that doesn’t make it any less devastating.”
“Today, the Supreme Court not only reversed nearly 50 years of precedent, it relegated the most intensely personal decision someone can make to the whims of politicians and ideologues—attacking the essential freedoms of millions of Americans,” he wrote in a statement.
The former president further called on people to support groups like Planned Parenthood and United State of Women that “have been sounding the alarm on this issue for years—and will continue to be on the front lines of this fight.”
Jun 24, 10:44 am
Anti-abortion groups call court ruling historic victory
Anti-abortion groups praised the Supreme Court decision to overturn federal abortion rights on Friday.
“Today marks an historic human rights victory for unborn children and their mothers and a bright pro-life future for our nation,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B Anthony Pro-Life America, in a statement.
“Every legislature in the land, in every single state and Congress, is now free to allow the will of the people to make its way into the law through our elected representatives,” Dannenfelser added.
Students for Life, another pro-abortion group, also called the ruling a “win,” saying, “Roe v. Wade has been a cancer growing in our Constitution resulting in more than 63 million deaths. Today, the court has cut it out.”
“The injustice of Roe has finally come to an end, and the momentum to protect life in law is finally on the side of innocent preborn children and their mothers who deserve our help,” said Students for Life President Kristan Hawkins.
Jun 24, 10:36 am
House minority leader applauds abortion decision
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, along with Republican Whip Rep. Steve Scalise and GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, immediately lauded the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health.
“Every unborn child is precious, extraordinary, and worthy of protection,” the trio of GOP leaders wrote in a statement minutes after the decision was announced. “We applaud this historic ruling, which will save countless innocent lives.
“The Supreme Court is right to return the power to protect the unborn to the people’s elected representatives in Congress and the states. In the days and weeks following this decision, we must work to continue to reject extreme policies that seek to allow late-term abortions and taxpayer dollars to fund these elective procedures.”
McCarthy added “more work remains” to protect the most vulnerable among us.
Jun 24, 10:26 am
Supreme Court overturns Roe, leaves abortion decisions up to states
The Supreme Court struck down 50 years of precedent on Friday, striking down abortion rights at the federal level.
“We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled,” Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the majority opinion. “The Constitution makes no reference to abortion, and no such right is implicitly protected by any constitutional provision, including the one on which the defenders of Roe and Casey now chiefly rely—the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.”
(WASHINGTON) — As reactions to the Dobbs decision roll in, Congressional Democrats are outraged. But don’t expect that outrage to translate to passable legislation anytime soon.
Any effort to codify a woman’s right to choose would need to clear the Senate filibuster. That means 60 votes. And those votes are nowhere to be seen in the Senate.
Undoubtedly, today’s Supreme Court decision will reignite discussion among some progressives about overturning the filibuster to try to codify the rights previously enshrined in Roe v. Wade. They’ll have to wait to see if those discussions gain any traction, but 50 votes are needed to change the Senate rules.
That will need the support of Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who has been exceptionally clear that he doesn’t support a filibuster carve out. Without his support, the Senate rules can’t be changed.
In a statement today following the ruling, Manchin said he’s hopeful for a bipartisan solution (which, if some are reading the Joe Manchin tea leaves, likely means a path forward that does NOT involve a change to the Senate rules).
“Let me be clear, I support legislation that would codify the rights Roe v. Wade previously protected,” Manchin said in a statement. “I am hopeful Democrats and Republicans will come together to put forward a piece of legislation that would do just that.”
When the draft Dobbs decision leaked in May, reporters chased after Manchin to ask him if he’d support a filibuster carve out to codify Roe. He held the line then on defending the Senate rules. He was asked if he’d be willing to get rid of the filibuster in light of the ruling if it meant Democrats could be successful in their efforts to codify Roe.
“The filibuster is the only protection of democracy,” he said.
When reporters pushed him on women who are going to be affected by the ruling, he said, “We’ve protected women’s rights with the filibuster, so we have to look at it. But the bottom line is it is the only check and balance we have.”
It’s deeply unlikely Manchin will have a change of tone. Which means any legislative efforts are going to be largely for show. That’s a road that Democrats have already gone down. Democrats forced a vote on the Senate floor on the Women’s Health Protection Act in May. It failed 49-51 (Sen. Joe Manchin opposed it because he felt it was more sweeping than simply codifying a right to an abortion).
Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said they support codifying a woman’s right to choose, but their support isn’t enough to get to 60.
Collins said in a statement Friday she’s working with Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., on bipartisan legislation to codify Roe.
“Our goal with this legislation is to do what the Court should have done — provide the consistency in our abortion laws that Americans have relied upon for 50 years,” she said.
If that effort fails to gain traction, where does that leave abortion rights supporters? Looking toward the 2022 election. That’s why Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and others today have been calling on Americans to take to the polls in November.
(WASHINGTON) — As reactions to the Dobbs decision roll in, Congressional Democrats are outraged. But don’t expect that outrage to translate to passable legislation anytime soon.
Any effort to codify a woman’s right to choose would need to clear the Senate filibuster. That means 60 votes. And those votes are nowhere to be seen in the Senate.
Undoubtedly, today’s Supreme Court decision will reignite discussion among some progressives about overturning the filibuster to try to codify the rights previously enshrined in Roe v. Wade. They’ll have to wait to see if those discussions gain any traction, but 50 votes are needed to change the Senate rules.
That will need the support of Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who has been exceptionally clear that he doesn’t support a filibuster carve out. Without his support, the Senate rules can’t be changed.
In a statement today following the ruling, Manchin said he’s hopeful for a bipartisan solution (which, if some are reading the Joe Manchin tea leaves, likely means a path forward that does NOT involve a change to the Senate rules).
“Let me be clear, I support legislation that would codify the rights Roe v. Wade previously protected,” Manchin said in a statement. “I am hopeful Democrats and Republicans will come together to put forward a piece of legislation that would do just that.”
When the draft Dobbs decision leaked in May, reporters chased after Manchin to ask him if he’d support a filibuster carve out to codify Roe. He held the line then on defending the Senate rules. He was asked if he’d be willing to get rid of the filibuster in light of the ruling if it meant Democrats could be successful in their efforts to codify Roe.
“The filibuster is the only protection of democracy,” he said.
When reporters pushed him on women who are going to be affected by the ruling, he said, “We’ve protected women’s rights with the filibuster, so we have to look at it. But the bottom line is it is the only check and balance we have.”
It’s deeply unlikely Manchin will have a change of tone. Which means any legislative efforts are going to be largely for show. That’s a road that Democrats have already gone down. Democrats forced a vote on the Senate floor on the Women’s Health Protection Act in May. It failed 49-51 (Sen. Joe Manchin opposed it because he felt it was more sweeping than simply codifying a right to an abortion).
Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said they support codifying a woman’s right to choose, but their support isn’t enough to get to 60.
Collins said in a statement Friday she’s working with Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., on bipartisan legislation to codify Roe.
“Our goal with this legislation is to do what the Court should have done — provide the consistency in our abortion laws that Americans have relied upon for 50 years,” she said.
If that effort fails to gain traction, where does that leave abortion rights supporters? Looking toward the 2022 election. That’s why Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and others today have been calling on Americans to take to the polls in November.
(WASHINGTON) — After the U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark decision that guaranteed a woman’s right to an abortion, states are taking action.
The court’s ruling rolled back constitutional protection for abortion rights, giving each state the power to decide.
Several states had trigger laws in place that immediately banned abortion if Roe was overturned. Others guarantee the right to an abortion under state laws or their constitutions.
Some states are now introducing new laws, emboldened by the Supreme Court’s decision.
Latest updates:
Jun 24, 2:11 pm
Indiana legislators to address abortion in special session
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said a special session of the General Assembly next month will address abortion in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling.
“The Supreme Court’s decision is clear, and it is now up to the states to address this important issue. We’ll do that in short order in Indiana,” Holcomb said in a statement. “I’ve already called the General Assembly back on July 6, and I expect members to take up this matter as well.”
The Supreme Court’s decision is clear, and it is now up to the states to address this important issue. We’ll do that in short order in Indiana. I’ve already called the General Assembly back on July 6, and I expect members to take up this matter as well.
Jun 24, 2:10 pm
South Carolina governor vows to push for passage of ‘fetal heartbeat bill’
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican, vowed to push for more abortion restrictions on the heels of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.
“Today’s Supreme Court ruling is a resounding victory for the Constitution and for those who have worked for so many years to protect the lives of the most vulnerable among us,” McMaster tweeted.
He added, “By the end of the day, we will file motions so that the Fetal Heartbeat Act will go into effect in South Carolina and immediately begin working with members of the General Assembly to determine the best solution for protecting the lives of unborn South Carolinians.”
By the end of the day, we will file motions so that the Fetal Heartbeat Act will go into effect in South Carolina and immediately begin working with members of the General Assembly to determine the best solution for protecting the lives of unborn South Carolinians.
— Gov. Henry McMaster (@henrymcmaster) June 24, 2022
The law requires doctors to perform ultrasounds on pregnant women seeking an abortion to determine if cardiac activity can be detected, which typically occurs around six weeks — before many women know they’re pregnant.
The law had been blocked, pending the outcome of Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban, which was upheld by the Supreme Court in a 6-3 vote along party lines.
Additionally, the state’s attorney general, Alan Wilson, announced he has filed a motion in federal court to lift the injunction of the law.
Jun 24, 1:11 pm
Alabama governor seeks to enforce abortion ban
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said Friday the state will work to enforce a 2019 law that makes performing an abortion at any stage a felony unless the mother’s health is in danger.
“Currently, there is a halt by a federal judge on the enforcement of that law, but now that Roe is overturned, the state will immediately ask the court to strike down any legal barriers to enforcing this law,” Ivey said in a statement.
Currently, there is a halt by a federal judge on the enforcement of that law, but now that Roe is overturned, the state will immediately ask the court to strike down any legal barriers to enforcing this law. (4/6)
— Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) June 24, 2022
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall also issued a statement calling on all abortion clinics in the state to close.
“Any abortionist or abortion clinic operating in the State of Alabama in violation of Alabama law should immediately cease and desist operations,” Marshall said.
The right to an abortion is not protected under Alabama’s state constitution.
Jun 24, 1:10 pm
Virginia governor seeks to ban abortion after 15 weeks
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin will seek to ban abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy following the Supreme Court decision to overrule Roe v. Wade, his office confirmed to ABC News.
Virginians elected a pro-life governor and he supports finding consensus on legislation,” spokesperson Macaulay Porter said.
She added, “He has tapped Senator Siobhan Dunnavant, Senator Steve Newman, Delegate Kathy Byron and Delegate Margaret Ransone to do so and prioritize protecting life when babies begin to feel pain in the womb, including a 15-week threshold.”
Youngkin released a statement Friday morning praising the court’s decision, saying it “rightfully returned power to the people and their elected representatives in the states.”
Jun 24, 12:56 pm
Missouri announces abortion ban after Supreme Court ruling
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said in a tweet Friday that Missouri has banned abortions following the Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.
“In response to today’s SCOTUS ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, I have signed a proclamation activating the ‘Right to Life of the Unborn Child Act,’ ending elective abortions in the State,” Parson wrote.
BREAKING: Missouri has become the first state in the nation to effectively end abortions.
In response to today’s SCOTUS ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, I have signed a proclamation activating the “Right to Life of the Unborn Child Act,” ending elective abortions in the State. pic.twitter.com/Spfi5k1grX
With the overturning of Roe, nearly half of the nation’s 50 states are prepared to ban all or nearly all abortions, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights policy organization.
(WASHINGTON) — As Pride Month nears its end, the House has passed the LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act, which will require over 100 federal agencies to improve data collection and surveying of LGBTQ communities.
Data collection is vital to understanding the needs of a community, sponsors of the bill say.
The legislation states that complete and accurate information about LGBTQ identities is needed to “inform public policy and federal programs,” allowing legislators to direct resources where they are needed and better serve the community.
Right now, few federal agencies regularly collect complete, nuanced data on these populations, according to the bill.
“The availability of data also has a critical role in ensuring that any disparities in areas like health outcomes, housing, and employment can be addressed,” the bill states.
The act would also implement privacy requirements for data collection that would prevent the personal identification of individuals for their protection.
Today, the House is considering the LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act. By ensuring the LGBTQI+ community is represented in federal studies and surveys, the LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act will help us craft better policies to meet the needs of the LGBTQI+ community #BetterData#BetterPolicypic.twitter.com/3CwpjIgB5t
— LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus (@LGBTEqCaucus) June 23, 2022
LGBTQ people are more likely to experience poor health conditions, financial and housing insecurity, and higher unemployment rates than the general population, according to research by Rutgers University, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and more.
Activists applauded the move to expand data collection, including the nation’s largest LGBTQ civil rights group, the Human Rights Campaign.
They say it’ll help formally acknowledge and attempt to address issues facing the community.
“Turning the knowledge of those disparities into action that will close the gap requires a much more systematic and consistent effort,” said David Stacy, HRC’s Government Affairs director. “We call on the U.S. Senate to take up this important legislation, pass it, and send it to President Biden for his signature.”
(WASHINGTON) — The House voted Friday afternoon to pass a bipartisan gun safety package.
The bill, crafted in the wake of devastating mass shootings and on the one-month anniversary of the Robb Elementary School massacre in Texas that left 19 young children dead, is the first major piece of gun reform to clear Congress in decades.
The final vote was 234-193, with 14 Republicans joining all Democrats in supporting the bill. Applause could be heard in the chamber when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the vote.
The legislation now goes to President Joe Biden’s desk.
The president has praised the bill, despite having called on lawmakers to pass stronger restrictions like a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
“This bipartisan legislation will help protect Americans,” Biden said in a statement after the Senate passed the legislation on Thursday. “Kids in schools and communities will be safer because of it.”
Fifteen Republicans in the Senate, including Republican leader Mitch McConnell, voted in favor of the bill.
The measure makes enhancements to background checks for potential gun buyers under the age of 21, requiring an “investigative period” to review juvenile and mental health records.
It also closes the so-called “boyfriend loophole.” Under current law, those convicted of domestic violence are prohibited from purchasing a gun if they are married to their partners or live with their partners. But under this bill, individuals in “serious” “dating relationships” will also be unable to buy guns for at least five years if they are convicted of abuse.
Millions of dollars would also be allocated to incentive states to pass “red flag” laws to remove guns from people deemed to be a danger to themselves or others, as well as other intervention programs or mental health services.
The House previously passed numerous gun reform packages; however, the Senate never took up the legislation due to Republican opposition.
The most recent package passed in the House earlier this month went much further than the Senate package. The legislation raised the minimum age to purchase firearms and banned ghost guns and large-capacity ammunition magazines, among other gun safety protections.
“This is a compromise. Surely not everything I want, and it’s not everything Republicans won. But it’s the first opportunity we’ve had in decades to do something worthwhile to prevent gun violence,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass.
But other Democrats said the package didn’t go far enough.
“While I know that some are celebrating progress today, I am certainly not,” Rep. Norma Torres, D-Calif., emotionally said during Friday’s Rules Committee meeting. “This bill before us today is the bare minimum and we should be embarrassed. The bare minimum to protect children that are being murdered while learning their ABCs.”
Pelosi and other Democrats gathered on the steps of the United States Capitol before the vote to celebrate the legislation.
“I say to my colleagues: while it isn’t everything we would have liked to see in legislation, it takes us down the road, the path to more safety, saving lives,” Pelosi said. “Let us not judge the legislation for what it does not do, but respect it for what it does.”
“Our colleagues are gathered here with pictures of those who have been lost in all of this, accompanied by family members of those who have been lost,” Pelosi added. “It is our constant resolve that we will not stop until the job is done.”
The passage of the gun safety bill comes just one day after a major Supreme Court decision expanding gun rights.
The court’s conservative majority struck down a 100-year-old New York law that restricted the concealed carry of handguns in public to only those with a “proper cause.” Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in the opinion that the Second and Fourteenth Amendments protect an individual’s right to carry a handgun for self-defense outside the home.
ABC News’ Benjamin Siegel contributed to this report.
