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Texas Senator Ted Cruz was grilled over his stance on the Kate Cox abortion case in his state, but has avoided answering questions.
Cruz and fellow Texas Senator John Cornyn dodged questions on the controversial case, in which the Texas Supreme Court ruled women could not seek abortions for high-risk pregnancies. Cruz, NBC News reported, was given numerous opportunities to comment on the case but has so far declined.
In a video broadcast by MSNBC on Tuesday, Cruz was asked for comment on the case, but simply responded "just call our press office" repeatedly.
Newsweek has contacted Cruz's office for comment via email.
Cornyn also dodged commenting on the case. "I'm not a state official, so I'm not going to comment on what state officials are doing," he said. "I'm happy to comment on anything that I'm responsible for."
He has previously taken a clear pro-life stance, but the latest development in Texas means a precedent was set in which a mother seeking an abortion on medical grounds may not be granted an exception.
Cox, 31, left Texas to seek treatment before the ruling was made on Tuesday. Her fetus was diagnosed with Trisomy 18, which usually results in a miscarriage, still birth or death in the first days or weeks of a child's life.
Doctors also told Cox—already a mother of two—the condition could affect her ability to have children in the future. Physicians said they were unable to perform an abortion and Cox was granted an exception under a medical emergency by Judge Maya Guerra Gamble, who appeared tearful in court, last week.
"The idea that Ms Cox wants desperately to be a parent and that this law might cause her to lose that ability is shocking and would be a genuine miscarriage of justice," the judge said.
Following this, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton threatened criminal prosecution and asked the state Supreme Court to intervene.
The controversial case is typical of the divisions that have arisen since the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court in 2022. This decision gave states the power to limit abortion access.
President Joe Biden weighed in, calling the situation "outrageous" in a statement. He said: "No woman should be forced to go to court or flee her home state just to receive the health care she needs. But that is exactly what happened in Texas thanks to Republican elected officials, and it is simply outrageous. This should never happen in America, period."
He said his administration will continue its efforts to codify Roe v. Wade through a federal law passed through Congress.
About the writer
Benjamin Lynch is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is U.S. politics and national affairs and he ... Read more