Paxton: TX Will Not Tolerate Illegal Trafficking Of Abortion Pill

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has issued cease and desist orders to abortion pill dealers accused of illegally promoting and mailing abortion drugs to residents in Texas. The letters target Plan C, Her Safe Harbor, and an affiliate of Aid Access named Remy Coeytaux for their involvement in what Paxton describes as violations of state and federal laws.

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The cease and desist orders were reportedly sent on August 14 but were made public in a press release from Paxton's office on Wednesday. Paxton demanded that the parties immediately cease their activities, warning that failure to comply could lead to further legal action, including lawsuits seeking injunctive relief and civil penalties of at least $100,000 per violation under Texas law.

"Texas will not tolerate the murdering of innocent life through illegal drug trafficking," Paxton stated. He emphasized that organizations promoting abortion drugs are not above the law and that his office will take necessary measures to protect mothers and unborn children.

This action is part of a broader initiative to uphold Texas' pro-life stance and penalize those who violate the state's restrictions on abortion, which prohibits the procedure after six weeks of gestation. Paxton's decision to pursue legal action follows two incidents in Texas where abortion activists allegedly facilitated the illegal purchase of abortion-inducing drugs.

Paxton noted that organizations like Plan C and Her Safe Harbor advertise abortion pills by mail and promise quick delivery to Texas, likely violating both the federal Comstock Act and several provisions of Texas law, including the Human Life Protection Act.

As of now, Plan C has not responded to inquiries regarding compliance with Paxton's orders. Her Safe Harbor, in a recent Substack post, indicated that it would not back down from the legal challenge. The Federalist also reached out to Aid Access and Dr. Rémy Coeytaux but did not receive immediate responses.

In December, Paxton filed a lawsuit against a New York doctor for prescribing an abortion pill to a Texas woman, which resulted in severe complications for the woman and the death of her unborn child. Since then, multiple lawsuits related to abortion pills have emerged in Texas, including a case where a woman sued Aid Access and her former neighbor over the wrongful death of her baby.

In a separate criminal case, a man employed by the U.S. Department of Justice was arrested on a capital murder charge for allegedly poisoning his girlfriend with an abortion drug, leading to the death of their unborn child.

Other states have also taken steps to limit the distribution of mail-order mifepristone. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has sued Planned Parenthood Federation of America for allegedly endangering women and girls by promoting the abortion drug regimen as safer than over-the-counter medications.

Critics, including some corporate media and Democratic lawmakers, argue that pro-life laws in states like Texas contribute to the suffering and deaths of women who use abortion pills. However, Paxton maintains that those promoting the use of abortion drugs must adhere to the law.