CNN host Jake Tapper grilled Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves Sunday about a law in his state that would implement a near-total ban on abortions if Roe v. Wade is overturned.
If the landmark Supreme Court case is struck down, the law would automatically ban all abortions—except in cases of rape, or to save the life of the mother. In a previous interview in December, Reeves said he would enforce the ban.
The governor’s interview with Tapper came nearly a week after a draft opinion written by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, which was obtained and published by Politico, showed that a majority of the justices voted to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Tapper noted Sunday that the trigger law that was passed in Mississippi in 2007 “has no exception for incest.”
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“So assuming that the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, the state of Mississippi will force girls and women, who are the victims of incest, to carry those [children] to term. Can you explain why that is going to be your law?” the host asked.
“That’s going to be the law because in 2007, the Mississippi Legislature passed it,” the Republican governor responded, adding that “this sort of speaks to how far the Democrats in Washington have come on this issue.” He also noted that when the “trigger law” was enacted, it had the support of key Democratic state lawmakers.
“Why is it acceptable in your state to force girls who are victims of incest to carry those children to term?” Tapper interjected.
Reeves said that “over 92 percent of all abortions in America are elective procedures. When you look at the number of those that actually are involved incest, it’s actually less than one percent. And if we need to have that conversation in the future about potential…