New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy
Scott Mlyn | CNBC
New Jersey Gov. said. Phil Murphy on Wednesday that he would consider disobedience the Supreme Court and continue to provide mifepristone if the court is in favor of banning the abortion pill.
When asked if the state would prescribe mifepristone after such a decision, Murphy said MSNBC: “To learn.”
“When I say everything is on the table, Katy, I mean that. This action in general, whether it’s mifepristone, or whether it’s North Carolina or South Carolina, or Florida in six weeks,” said he said in an interview with MSNBC’s Katy Tur, also referring to other state-level abortion restrictions.
“This is going to cost people’ lives. It’s going to cost them health, it will also cost people’ lives, women in particular sadly. That is what is at stake, we will do everything to save lives,” said Murphy, a Democrat.
Murphy’s comments came after the US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans heard arguments in a case that could force mifepristone off the market nationwide, including in states where abortion is legal.
The case hinges on whether the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the abortion pill should be reinstated.
The closely watched legal battle is likely to return to the Supreme Court, which intervened last month to keep the drug available while the case moves through the court system.
Even if the high court rules in favor of a mifepristone ban, Justice Samuel Alito suggested the FDA could refuse to comply.
Alito said in a dissent last month that the FDA could use its enforcement discretion while the litigation played out and allow Danco Laboratories, the manufacturer of mifepristone, to continue distributing the abortion pill.
Mifepristone, used in combination with another drug, misoprostol, accounts for nearly half of all abortions in the country.
