Senate Republican Leader Mulls Federal Abortion Ban If Roe v. Wade Overturned

Politico published a leak on 2 May, suggesting that US Supreme Court was ready to overturn the landmark 1973 decision that effectively prevented states from issuing local bans on abortions. SCOTUS later confirmed the leak of the early draft opinion of the court dominated by conservative justices.

Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has stated that a federal ban on abortions in the US was "possible" in case the US Supreme Court overturns its own historic 1973 decision dubbed "Roe v Wade".

"If the leaked opinion became the final opinion, legislative bodies - not only at the state level but at the federal level - certainly could legislate in that area", McConnell said referring to a leaked draft opinion of the court published by Politico on 2 May.

McConnell was cautious in his predictions of whether the Senate Republicans would pass such federal ban should they retake the upper chamber following the November midterms. However, he stated that the issue of abortions should be resolved "in the legislative process" one way or the other.

The GOP Senate leader further confirmed that his party's conservative stance on the abortions hasn't changed.

"If and when the court makes a final decision, I expect everybody will be more definitive. But I don't think it's much secret where Senate Republicans stand on that issue", McConnell said.

His comments come in the wake of the leak of the SCOTUS early draft opinion suggesting that the conservatives-dominated court leans heavily towards overturning Roe v Wade in the near future. The court later admitted that the leak was genuine although the final ruling is yet to be issued.

Democrats Oppose SCOTUS Plans to Overturn Roe v Wade

Democrats rushed to condemn the potential overruling of the landmark Supreme Court decision that effectively banned the states from passing local legislation banning abortions, although some of them, like Texas, found a way around it deputising the citizens to uphold the de facto ban. Congress Democrats and US President Joe Biden vowed to push a legislation through the Congress before the midterm election codifying the Roe v Wade ruling.

Several prominent Democrats warned the Supreme Court against overturning the landmark decision arguing that it might open the way for further acts infringing on "Americans rights" and that it would be "one of the worst and most damaging decisions". Biden slammed the draft opinion arguing that it would strip American women of "fundamental" right to an abortion and called on US citizens to vote blue in November in order to elect pro-choice lawmakers.

Democratic Party House and Senate leaders, Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi also issued joint statement on 2 May condemning the potential abolition of Roe v Wade.

"The Supreme Court is poised to inflict the greatest restriction of rights in the past fifty years - not just on women but on all Americans. The Republican-appointed Justices' reported votes to overturn Roe v. Wade would go down as an abomination", the Democrats' leaders said.

It is unclear if Democrats will be able to pass the motion to solidify Roe v Wade as a law. Despite controlling the House, Democrats only have 50 seats in the Senate, where they would require 60 to safely pass such a bill. It is unclear if they would manage to win over 10 Republicans to pass it.

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