Florida
AG Nominee Todd Blanche Pledges Action on Mail-Order Abortion Drugs as Senate Nomination Advances
Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche is one step closer to confirmation after the Republican Judiciary Committee voted to advance his appointment on a party-line vote on Tuesday, and based on promises he made to faith leaders around the country…
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Key points
- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told faith leaders he is working with federal agencies to restrict mail-order abortion drugs.
- Blanche’s nomination advanced through the Senate Judiciary Committee on a party-line vote.
- Federal efforts aim to prevent out-of-state telehealth providers from circumventing state-level pro-life laws.
NewsWK — Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche is moving closer to full confirmation following a party-line vote in the Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. His advancement comes as federal officials signals renewed efforts to support state-level protections for the unborn by curbing out-of-state mail-order abortion drugs.
According to a report first published by Stateline, Blanche addressed thousands of faith leaders during a July 30 conference call organized by the White House Faith Office. During the discussion, Blanche stated that the Department of Justice is working alongside the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Food and Drug Administration, and White House advisors to ensure state restrictions on abortion are upheld against out-of-state mail dispensing.
“If states have said, ‘We are going to protect the unborn and we’re going to protect every life from the moment of conception,’ we’re putting practices and policies in place so that other states and other organizations can’t attack that and they can’t do things like they’re doing with mail-order drugs,” Blanche told participants on the call, according to Stateline reporting.
Interstate Mail-Order Regulations and State Authority
The issue of mail-order chemical abortions has gained significant attention in states like Florida, where lawmakers have enacted strong protections for unborn children. Under previous FDA rules updated in 2023, healthcare providers in states without abortion restrictions have been able to ship mifepristone—a drug used in chemical abortions—directly to patients residing in states with bans via telehealth appointments.
The policy faces ongoing legal and regulatory challenges. The state of Louisiana filed a federal lawsuit against the FDA in October seeking to overturn the 2023 rule that eliminated in-person visit requirements. The FDA is currently conducting a safety review of mifepristone regulations, with results expected later this year.
Federal Policy Outlook
Pro-life advocates have also encouraged federal officials to examine existing statutes, including the long-standing Comstock Act of 1873, which prohibits the mailing of items intended for producing abortions. While Blanche did not explicitly cite specific statutes during the call, he reassured leaders that administrative policy changes are actively underway.
“We don’t have complete victory yet, but we will have victory, and victory will be soon and it will be permanent,” Blanche stated during the address.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
Based on reporting by Kelcie Moseley-Morris originally published by Stateline. Read the original story.
