Biden releases 3-point statement in response to SCOTUS leak; calls to codify Roe if overturned

President Joe Biden has reacted to the leak of an opinion draft of the Supreme Court of the United States, which, if true, would effectively overturn Roe v Wade which has protected abortions in the United States since 1973.

Biden’s White House released a statement in which the president vowed to continue to protect abortion access in the United States, and used the leak to urge voters to elect pro-choice candidates. In the event that Roe is ultimately overturned, he called to codify abortion protections into law, and for that, they will need a pro-choice majority.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2022

Statement by President Joe Biden

We do not know whether this draft is genuine, or whether it reflects the final decision of the Court.

With that critical caveat, I want to be clear on three points about the cases before the Supreme Court.

First, my administration argued strongly before the Court in defense of Roe v. Wade. We said that Roe is based on “a long line of precedent recognizing ‘the Fourteenth Amendment’s concept of personal liberty’… against government interference with intensely personal decisions.” I believe that a woman’s right to choose is fundamental, Roe has been the law of the land for almost fifty years, and basic fairness and the stability of our law demand that it not be overturned.

Second, shortly after the enactment of Texas law SB 8 and other laws restricting women’s reproductive rights, I directed my Gender Policy Council and White House Counsel’s Office to prepare options for an Administration response to the continued attack on abortion and reproductive rights, under a variety of possible outcomes in the cases pending before the Supreme Court. We will be ready when any ruling is issued.

Third, if the Court does overturn Roe, it will fall on our nation’s elected officials at all levels of government to protect a woman’s right to choose. And it will fall on voters to elect pro-choice officials this November. At the federal level, we will need more pro-choice Senators and a pro-choice majority in the House to adopt legislation that codifies Roe, which I will work to pass and sign into law.

Democrats quickly seized on the opportunity presented by this leak to rally their base ahead of the midterms.

A stolen, illegitimate, and far-right Supreme Court majority appears set to destroy the right to abortion, an essential right which protects the health, safety, and freedom of millions of Americans. There is no other recourse. We must expand the court.

— Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) May 3, 2022

Congress must pass legislation that codifies Roe v. Wade as the law of the land in this country NOW. And if there aren’t 60 votes in the Senate to do it, and there are not, we must end the filibuster to pass it with 50 votes.

— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) May 3, 2022

If we don’t, what message does that send? We can’t sit around, finger point, & hand wring as people’s futures + equality are on the line.

It’s time to be decisive, lead with confidence, fight for a prosperous future for all and protect the vulnerable.

Leave it all on the field.

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 3, 2022

Some on the right even believe the leak was planned to have this effect:

Biden this morning: “At the federal level, we will need more pro-choice Senators and a pro-choice majority in the House to adopt legislation that codifies Roe.”

This is what the leak is all about.

— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) May 3, 2022

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