Sacramento, California– California Governor Gavin Newsom said Wednesday he is blocking Louisiana’s attempt to extradite a Golden State doctor accused of mailing abortion pills.
Democratic Governor’s Proclamation It comes after a day Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, a Republican, said he sent extradition papers in an attempt to bring the doctor “to justice.” Louisiana has some Strict anti-abortion laws In the country, while California law aims to Protecting abortion providers From criminal prosecution for treating patients outside the country.
Newsom said extraditing the doctor would have been in violation of an executive order he signed in 2022 barring state agencies in his administration from aiding other states’ efforts to prosecute abortion providers.
“We will not allow extremist politicians from other states to come into California and attempt to punish doctors based on allegations that they provide reproductive health care services,” he said in a statement. “Not today. Not ever.”
Landry’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Newsom’s announcement.
Louisiana has been pushing for the extradition of Remy Coiteux, a doctor in the San Francisco Bay Area. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Morell said Tuesday that Quitao faces a felony charge of abortion by taking abortion-inducing drugs and risks spending up to 50 years in prison if convicted.
An email and phone message seeking comment from Coeytaux were not answered Tuesday about the delivery payment.