U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland has said the U.S. Department of Justice will use a federal law to protect the safety of women seeking abortions in Texas as the department “urgently explores all options” to challenge a law restricting abortions in the state.
Garland issued the statement Monday, just days after the Texas abortion law took effect. The measure permits private citizens to sue doctors and others who knowingly help a woman get an abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected—which occurs at about six weeks of pregnancy. The U.S. Supreme Court denied an emergency request to block the law Sept. 1.
