New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul threatened retail pharmaceutical giant Walgreens with “consequences” Friday if the company refused to distribute abortion pills in her state. Her statement followed California’s decision to pull out of a contract with Walgreens.
She made her comments on “CNN This Morning” to host Don Lemon, which means very few Americans are aware of her promise.
Still, battle lines over abortion pills are drawn and major companies are caught in the crossfire.
Walgreens announced last month that it will halt distribution of the abortion pill mifepristone to several Republican-led states. This followed nearly two dozen GOP attorneys general threatening the company with legal action over the drug.
Hochul concentrates on how many babies she can help extinguish, while NY City is riddled with crime and falling apart. She's a useless evil POS!
Hochul Promises ‘Consequences’ If Walgreens Refuses To Distribute Abortion Drug https://t.co/xIuCzMOwMU via @dailycaller
— CJ4America (@GrammyC4Zone) March 11, 2023
Missouri AG Andrew Bailey, who is spearheading the national effort, said that he and his colleagues will “use every tool at our disposal to uphold the law.”
Hochul declared retail pharmacies to be the “new battleground ever since women’s rights were stripped in the overturning of Roe v. Wade.” She called her threat a “preemptive message” to the industry.
The governor added, “We’re gonna go to the mat and protect them every inch of the way, and if they try to suspend the distribution of this important drug to women in the state of New York, there will be consequences.”
Hochul and New York Attorney General Letitia James composed a letter Thursday to major drugstore companies.
The pair wrote, “Even as access to this medication is under threat elsewhere for political reasons, we remind you that New York’s law is simple: Abortion is legal and protected as a fundamental right under state law and there are no legal barriers to dispensing mifepristone in New York.”
Hochul told the CNN audience that she is jumping into the fight. In a surprising twist, Lemon asked a pertinent question comparing her actions with those by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that were heavily criticized by Democrats.
The host wondered aloud if her moves regarding retail pharmacy chains may be compared to DeSantis’ legal battles with Disney and others. Could this be seen as another case of “influencing how businesses operate?”
Hochul, of course, summarily dismissed the comparison. She said it’s not a “political campaign” but “basic women’s health care.” That she found her abortion pill threats to be not “political” is both amusing and completely dishonest.
