Texas GOP to Stop Law Firms From Paying for Abortion Travel and Expenses

The Texas Liberty Caucus, a legislative caucus in the Texas Residence of Representatives, sent a threatening letter to a legislation company with destinations in Dallas and Houston that prepared to reimburse travel expenses for personnel seeking an abortion.

In the letter, which was addressed to Sidley Austin LLP, the 11 associates of the caucus wrote that legislation will be launched to impose civil and criminal sanctions on legislation firms that pay out for abortion or abortion journey.

“We are writing to advise you of the consequences that you and your colleagues will experience for these actions,” it stated.

The proposed legislation will prohibit any employer in the condition from paying out for elective abortions or reimbursing abortion-linked fees regardless of where the abortion happens. According to these lawmakers, private citizens will be authorized to sue everyone who pays for an elective abortion carried out on a Texas resident. 

If passed, the regulation will grant The Point out Bar of Texas to disbar any attorney who has violated any abortion statutes. 

The Texas Liberty Caucus claimed Sidley had aided or abetted drug-induced abortions that violate the Texas Heartbeat Act, a legislation that bans abortions at about six months of being pregnant. In accordance to the letter, litigation is presently underway to recognize personnel who may well have been concerned.

“To the extent that Sidley is facilitating abortions done in violation of posting 4512.1, it is exposing alone and each and every of its companions to felony prison prosecution and disbarment.”

According to an e mail considered by Bloomberg Regulation, Sidley claimed it would address abortions and linked vacation expenditures for staff in states the place limitations are heading into influence. 

On June 24, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a authorized precedent from 1973 that designed abortion authorized across the US. 

Previous year, State Senate Bill 8 took outcome in Texas which outlawed abortion all over six weeks of gestation, even in situations of rape and incest. The most current ruling will make prison penalties for all those who perform or assist abortions at all phases of pregnancy. 

The letter was supported by the 11 conservative Texas lawmakers and concluded: “Perform yourselves accordingly.”

Sidley Austin LLP and The Texas Independence Caucus did not immediately reply to Insider’s request for comment.