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Janet Mills calls court restrictions on abortion drug 'legally and scientifically baseless'

Gov. Janet Mills speaks with a visitor in her office at the State House, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, in Augusta, Maine.
Robert F. Bukaty
/
AP file
Gov. Janet Mills speaks with a visitor in her office at the State House, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, in Augusta, Maine.

Gov. Janet Mills and Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey are calling the restrictions the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has placed on the abortion medication drug mifepristone legally and scientifically baseless.

While Mills says she's relieved that mifepristone remains available, she says the restrictions would jeopardize the health and safety of Maine women if they go into effect.

The appeals court ordered that the drug only be allowed for use through seven weeks of pregnancy instead of 10. It also prohibits it from being sent through the mail, an option that abortion providers say is important for ensuring access in rural states such as Maine.

Mills says her administration is closely watching a separate court case in Washington state, where a judge ordered the FDA to protect access to mifepristone in 18 states, including Maine, that had filed a lawsuit. If the judge reaffirms his decision, Mills says the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals' restrictions won't apply to Maine.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.