New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand criticized potential 2024 primary rival Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s calls to disregard a Texas judge’s abortion pill ruling.
Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union, Gillibrand implied that dismissing the ruling could have severe consequences and suggested a “last-ditch” plan to protect abortion rights.
Gillibrand stated, “It’s hard to ignore the rule of law, and we have a court system and an appeals system for a reason. So I think the Biden administration is correct in actually fighting this at the Supreme Court.”
Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk of Texas halted the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of mifepristone, a drug used in combination with another medication to induce abortion.
The pill has been approved for approximately 23 years.
In response to the ruling, Gillibrand said, “It’s an outrage. And so we will fight in every respect we can. We will file lawsuits, we will continue to appeal this kind of decision. We will also continue to fight state by state to codify Roe in state law.”
She mentioned successful ballot initiatives in conservative states like Kansas and Montana.
Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) called on President Joe Biden to simply ignore the ruling.
Ocasio-Cortez previously told CNN, “The interesting thing when it comes to a ruling is that it relies on enforcement. And it is up to the Biden administration to enforce, to choose whether or not to enforce a ruling.”
Shortly after the Texas decision, a Washington ruling contradicted it, instructing the FDA not to change the drug’s availability.
On Friday, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito stayed the Texas ruling temporarily, setting up a high court review this week.
If the Supreme Court does not rule in favor of abortion rights, Gillibrand believes progressives can take action state by state.
She explained, “Whether we win or not in the Supreme Court doesn’t mean that’s our last effort. We will go state by state to guarantee reproductive freedom. But I think the national conversation we have to have is this right to privacy.”
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Gillibrand is up for reelection in 2024, with Ocasio-Cortez speculated as a potential primary challenger, although the progressive firebrand has not announced a bid.
Both chambers of Congress will reconvene this week after a two-week break.