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South Dakota Gov. Christy Noem was asked on CNN’s “State of the Union” whether her state would force a 10-year-old to have a baby after an Ohio girl was denied the procedure because of the state’s abortion ban.
“Because this is a trigger law that was passed before you became governor, I wanted you to be clear — is the state of South Dakota going to force a 10-year-old in the same situation in the future to have a baby?” CNN’s Dana Bash asked the governor during the show on Sunday.
The Indianapolis Star reported Friday that a 10-year-old girl in Ohio, six weeks and three days pregnant, could not have an abortion because of an Ohio law banning abortions after six weeks, when the fetus’s heartbeat begins.
The girl was on her way to Indiana, where the abortion ban has not yet gone into effect. State lawmakers have scheduled a special session on inflation and abortion for July 25, where they are expected to include an abortion ban, according to WFYI.
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“What’s amazing is that no one is talking about the perverted, horrible, deranged individual who raped a 10-year-old child, and what are we doing about it?” Noem replied. “As much as we talk about what we can do for this little girl, I think we should also pay attention to these sick people who are doing this to our children.
Noem said South Dakota law states that abortions are illegal unless they are intended to save the life of the mother. Bash then asked if Noem would agree to a 10-year-old girl having a baby.
“No, I never agree with that. In fact, this story will keep me up at night,” Noem said in response.
Bash asked if South Dakota would change the law to have an exception, but Noem did not directly answer the question.
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“What’s a 10-year-old girl like physically – she probably can’t even carry a baby without being emotionally and mentally tortured, but also physically hurt. Do you think a mother’s life is at risk?” Bash asked Noem.
Noem said it would be up to her doctors, family members and those closest to her to make a decision on the matter.
South Dakota Gov. Christy Noem speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (AP Photo/John Raoux)
The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in a landmark decision on June 24, leaving the issue of abortion to the states. The decision ultimately ended recognition of the constitutional right to abortion.
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“The Constitution does not prohibit the citizens of any state from regulating or prohibiting abortion. Rowe and Casey appropriated this authority. We now reverse those decisions and return that power to the people and their elected representatives,” Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the court’s opinion.
The pro-life crowd cheered the SCOTUS decision. (Joshua Comins/Fox News)
Several Republican states have already passed “trigger laws” immediately restricting access to abortion after the decision is announced. Likewise, many pro-choice advocates are working to codify Roe or enact looser restrictions on abortion at the state level.
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Fox News reached out to Noem’s office for comment, but did not hear back in time for publication.
Haley Chi-Sing is a digital production assistant at Fox News. You can reach her at @haleychising on Twitter.
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