The White House says it’s working with a “broad range of groups” to try to ensure abortions continue to be legal across the United States.
This comes after a draft majority Supreme Court opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade was leaked on Monday.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Friday that the Biden administration is working to see “what levers we have in government” to respond if the 1973 decision that made abortion legal throughout the country is, in fact, overturned by the Supreme Court.
“What our effort and our focus is on is on broadly engaging about the specifics on possible actions and preparing for the release of a final opinion,” said Psaki, noting the release is expected early this summer.
Psaki said the White House Gender Policy Council is leading the charge, working with pro-abortion activist groups, private businesses, as well as officials in state and federal government to see what options the administration has if Roe is overturned, and states were able to make their own decisions regarding abortion access.
The outgoing press secretary also noted recent developments in state legislatures.
Psaki points to President Joe Biden’s “whole of government” response to oppose a new law in Texas banning most abortions, and Biden’s support of a new law signed by Connecticut Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont on Thursday meant to allow women to get an abortion in Connecticut if they’ve been denied in another state.
“Obviously, our preference would be for Congress to codify Roe and, of course, for the final opinion not to look like the leaked opinion,” Psaki added.
“But we are also supportive of states. We’re going to work with a broad range of stakeholders as we prepare for a final opinion to be released.”
This comes a day after Psaki avoided condemning the unprecedented Supreme Court leak during a line of questioning at a White House press briefing.
By Nick Ciolino
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