On March 2, the pharmacy chain Walgreens announced it would not sell or ship chemical abortion Mifepristone in twenty states. Walgreens admitted in a press statement on March 6 that to do so in several states is illegal. In an open letter to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, 22 State Attorneys General explained that the FDA’s January 3 deregulation of the chemical abortion drug Mifepristone for sale and shipment across state lines is a violation of both state and federal laws, vowing to prosecute any such violations. Despite the fact that a U.S. District Court may overturn the FDA’s approval of the drug any day now, which could outlaw the drug in all 50 states overnight, California Gov. Gavin Newsom says, “California won’t be doing business with Walgreens….”
Q&A:
- Why did Walgreens choose not to sell or ship Mifepristone in some states?
Answer: Walgreens admitted in a press statement on March 6 that to do so in several states is illegal. In an open letter to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, 22 State Attorneys General explained that the FDA’s January 3 deregulation of the chemical abortion drug Mifepristone for sale and shipment across state lines is a violation of both state and federal laws, vowing to prosecute any such violations.
- Hasn’t the DOJ indicated that it won’t enforce the law regarding the shipment and sale of chemical abortion?
Answer: Yes, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, in a coordinated effort with the FDA said it would not enforce the law by prosecuting illicit abortion drug trafficking. Following this, one-quarter of all U.S. Senators sent an open letter to AG Garland insisting that U.S. code amended in 1994 under sections 1461 and 1462 of title 18 make interstate sale and shipment of abortion drugs illegal and, therefore, Garland, as chief law enforcement officer, is oathbound to enforce the law rather than subvert it.
- What has been the response from pro-abortion politicians?
Answer: Pro-abortion politicians like California Gov. Gavin Newsom and left-leaning media like MSNBC are up in arms while Hollywood tycoon Michael Moore calls for a boycott of Walgreens, using Marxist, Antifa, anti-Christian, and enslavement lingo. But this is not about a communist political revolution for Walgreens. It’s about business.
- Is this decision by Walgreens worth the backlash of politicians like Gov. Newsom?
Answer: Facing the threat of litigation by twenty-two states with the potential threat of federal racketeering and money laundering charges, both of which could shutter the Illinois-based pharmacy chain, Walgreens is wisely limiting its inventory to “legally approved medications….” To do otherwise would leave them open to litigation.
- What will happen to Californian citizens who depend on Walgreens to fulfill Medi-Cal prescriptions?
Answer: But many are left to wonder what Gov. Newsom meant by his statement that “California won’t be doing business with Walgreens….” As the second largest pharmacy chain in the U.S. with California home to the third largest number of Walgreens locations, a move by California to ban Medi-Cal funding could dramatically impact access to medical care for the impoverished, forcing them to use mass transit, traveling unrealistic distances to fill vital prescriptions.
- What do you have to say about Gavin Newsome’s actions?
Answer: The irony is that while Newsom and others seek to boycott Walgreens, the company still plans to distribute the dangerous abortion drug in their California stores. Using the office of governor, holding the wellbeing of the citizens of California hostage, Newsome is forcing Walgreens to open themselves up to a nearly endless liability of chemical abortion-related litigation from class action lawsuits, as well as violations of state and federal law.
- What does the future hold for chemical abortion in the U.S.?
Answer: A U.S. District Court may overturn the FDA’s approval of the drug any day now, which could outlaw the drug in all 50 states overnight, which would make Newsome’s point moot. Newsome should know better than to risk the lives of women across the nation just to push a radicalized abortion agenda. While Walgreens shouldn’t carry the dangerous abortion drugs, they are taking a good first step toward ethical medical care by refusing to be bullied into submission to an illegal chemical abortion drug trafficking scheme by Newsome, the DOJ, and other pro-abortion political leaders.
Rev. Jim Harden, CompassCare CEO:
Rev. James R. Harden, M.Div. is the CEO of CompassCare Pregnancy Services and lives outside of Rochester, NY with his wife and ten children. Rev. Harden pioneered the first measurable and repeatable medical model in the pregnancy center movement, helping hundreds of centers nationwide become more effective at reaching more women and saving more babies from abortion. He has written extensively on medical ethics, executive leadership, and pro-life strategy. Recently CompassCare’s pro-life medical office in Buffalo, NY was firebombed.
Daniel Tomlinson, CompassCare Director of Community Relations:
Daniel Tomlinson is the Director of Community Relations at CompassCare, a Pregnancy Center based in Buffalo, New York. CompassCare’s pro-life medical office in Buffalo that was firebombed on June 7th and reopened a miraculous 52 days later. Having served at CompassCare for 12 years, Daniel is passionate about resourcing the mission of CompassCare and educating the community on the equal value of every person. He and his wife have four children and live outside of Rochester, NY.
CONTACT: Jerry McGlothlin at: geraldmcg@outlook.com or 919-437-0001.
