Abortion pill manufacturer asks to join suit that could rewrite US abortion access
The manufacturer, GenBioPro, filed court papers on Monday to become a defendant in the lawsuit over mifepristone, one of two drugs typically used in a US medication abortion. That lawsuit, which was brought by the Republican attorneys general of Idaho, Missouri and Kansas, seeks to reverse FDA regulations that dramatically expanded access to the pill, such as provisions that permit providers to prescribe it through telehealth.
Medication abortions account for more than 60% of US abortions. Last year, tens of thousands of them were provided through telehealth, including to women living in states with abortion bans, according to #WeCount, a research project by the Society of Family Planning.
'Despite the overwhelming majority of Americans – including constituents of these attorneys general – supporting the legal right to abortion, these politicians remain determined to severely restrict access to a critical drug that women across America depend on,' Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, said in a statement. Lawyers from Democracy Forward are serving on GenBioPro's legal team.
Perryman continued: 'Their baseless attacks not only jeopardize the availability of mifepristone, but also threaten the integrity of our nation's drug regulation system.'
The lawsuit is a continuation of a case that reached the US supreme court last year. It was first brought by an anti-abortion coalition known as the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine. In a 9-0 ruling, the justices found that the coalition lacked the legal standing to bring the case and sent it back to a lower court.
However, Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk of the northern district of Texas, ruled in January that the attorneys general from Idaho, Missouri and Kansas could continue the case for now. Kacsmaryk, who was appointed by Donald Trump, had in the earlier version of the case issued a court order that would yank mifepristone from the market entirely. That order was frozen by higher courts.
Under Joe Biden, the FDA defended itself against the lawsuit and argued in favor of maintaining the FDA's current regulation of the drug. Under Trump, however, the FDA is widely expected to drop out of the case.
Danco Laboratories, which manufactures mifepristone under the brand name Mifeprex, is already a defendant in the suit.
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More than 100 studies, conducted across decades and dozens of countries, have found that mifepristone and misoprostol, the second drug normally used in US abortions, are safe.
Other states, meanwhile, are taking aim at providers' ability to dispense abortion pills across state lines. Texas has filed a civil lawsuit against a New York doctor who allegedly prescribed pills to a woman in Texas, while Louisiana is pursuing a criminal case against the same doctor. New York, which has a shield law in place to protect abortion providers who operate in other states, has declined to sign Louisiana's extradition order.
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The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
The Trump administration is making viruses great again
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Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Scotsman
Huge policing operation for Trump's Scotland visit - 'Few if any cops will not be impacted'
Strict airspace regulations will also be in place as part of vast security operation Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The head of the Scottish Police Federation has said all officers in Scotland could be affected by the visit this week of US president Donald Trump. David Threadgold, who chairs the body that represents rank and file officers, said some may be expected to work 12-hour shifts, posing a 'challenge' for how they eat, sleep and rest. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Strict airspace restrictions will also be in place over Mr Trump's inaugural Scottish golf resort as part of a vast security operation. Donald Trump has spoken fondly of his links to Scotland (Picture: Andy Buchanan) | AFP via Getty Images Speculation mounted about a potential visit of the president this month when Police Scotland confirmed it was in the early stages of planning for such an event. In Washington DC on Thursday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Mr Trump will visit both of his golf courses in Scotland - Turnberry in Ayrshire and Menie in Aberdeenshire - between July 25 and 29. Mr Threadgold told Scotland on Sunday: 'This is a huge policing event for Scotland and we will require mutual aid because of the huge demand on my colleagues. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Very few if any cops will not be impacted by next week's visit and beyond. 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Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Time off 'very unlikely' 'We are not going to be telling officers they cannot go on holiday, but those who ask for time off at short notice are very unlikely to get it. 'Operation Roll is a very high demand event but we will continue to deliver community policing. 'Inevitably there will be an impact on our ability to do that, but the public should be reassured that emergencies will still be responded to, there just might be an impact on service delivery. 'There are so many people committed to this event but the public should be confident that we are excellent at what we do and our experience of policing things like Operation Unicorn and the Commonwealth Games should we can deliver.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Police Scotland is reported to have requested extra officers from across the UK to support the upcoming visit by Mr Trump. Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond said a policing plan will be in place to 'maintain public safety, balance rights to peaceful protest and minimise disruption,' adding: 'The visit will require a significant police operation using local, national and specialist resources from across Police Scotland, supported by colleagues from other UK police forces as part of mutual aid arrangements. "Officers make sacrifices every day to keep people safe, and their dedication and professionalism is the reason we manage to deliver significant operations." Flying regulations Notices filed by the Civil Aviation Authority reveal that sweeping flying regulations will be put in place over the Aberdeenshire site for nearly two weeks. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad While Mr Trump's visit - his first to his mother's homeland since 2023 - will begin on Friday, the CAA restrictions began today, and will remain in place until 10 August. 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A 55-year-old man was subsequently arrested, charged and released pending further inquiries, while that November, Police Scotland said a 35-year-old man had been reported to the procurator fiscal in connection with the incident. However, the Crown Office announced the following year that no criminal proceedings would be brought. Series of upcoming tournaments Mr Trump's Aberdeenshire resort is set to host a series of tournaments in the coming weeks. The Legends Tour Staysure PGA Seniors Championship, an event featuring veterans including Colin Montgomerie, Paul Lawrie, and José María Olazábal will be staged between 31 July and 3 August. It will be followed by the DP World Tour Next Championship, which takes place between 7 August and 10 August. But the CAA restrictions will be in place for ten days before the first of the two tournaments begin. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Balmedie resort is also set to welcome players to its new course come 13 August. Mr Trump is expected to take part in the opening ceremony for the recently constructed links, named after his mother, when he visits. It has already been confirmed Mr Trump will meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer while in Aberdeen, while plans are being put in place for the president to meet First Minister John Swinney, according to the Scottish Government. The president will return to the UK in September for his second state visit. Last week, Mr Trump told the BBC the north-east of Scotland - the oil and gas capital of Europe - should "get rid of the windmills and bring back the oil". Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The US president has long been an opponent of wind farms, objecting to a development off the coast of Aberdeen which can be seen from his golf course. There had also been speculation the King would host the American leader in Scotland after Charles suggested the meeting, at Balmoral or Dumfries House, in a letter he wrote to Mr Trump in February inviting him to make the state visit.
Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Scotsman
As Donald Trump seeks refuge from 'Epstein Files' furore, Scotland's politicians must take care
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... According to The Devil's Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce, the word diplomacy means 'the patriotic art of lying for one's country'. Although written in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the satirical sting of his book can still be felt today. While Donald Trump's trip to Scotland at the end of this week may be a private affair, a prelude to his UK state visit, its potential political importance should not be underestimated. There is a chance to at least lay the groundwork for a diplomatic coup with real, tangible benefits for Scotland and the UK. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad However, there is also a chance for things to go badly wrong, to annoy, embarrass or offend a childish and deeply flawed man, who also happens to be, whether we like it or not, the most powerful person on planet Earth. Elon Musk's claim that Donald Trump is mentioned in the Epstein Files has sparked a controversy that the US President is struggling to deal with (Picture: Roberto Schmidt) | AFP via Getty Images 'Epstein hoax'? These are troubled times for the US President. After a public falling out, one-time ally Elon Musk claimed Trump's name was in the 'Epstein files', referring to Jeffrey Epstein, a wealthy financier who killed himself in jail on remand after being arrested on charges of sex-trafficking children. The affair has begun to spiral with many of Trump's own 'Maga' supporters demanding the release of the files, supposedly including Epstein's 'client' list, and Musk now alleging there has been a 'cover-up' and that 'so many powerful people want that list suppressed'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Trump, who's been struggling to persuade people there's nothing to see in the 'Epstein hoax', will probably welcome the chance to escape to Scotland, play some golf, and talk about almost anything else. He may be desperate for the trip to go well and for as many political 'wins' as he can find, but also more volatile if things seem to be going badly.
