DeSantis claps back at CBS anchor’s ‘narrative’ on Florida’s abortion restrictions

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – In an interview with CBS’ Norah O’Donnell, Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed back on a “manufactured narrative” surrounding Florida’s abortion restrictions.

Last year, DeSantis signed into law a 15-week abortion ban, which has since been challenged in court. This year, he signed a 6-week ban, which can take effect if the Florida Supreme Court upholds the 15-week restriction.

“We asked the governor whether the penalties mentioned in Florida’s six week ban would include women,” the CBS anchor said.

“The penalties are for the physician,” DeSantis said.

“Governor, I read the bill,” O’Donnell chimed in. “It says just this: it does include jail time and fines for quote, ‘any person who willfully performs, or actively participates in, a termination of pregnancy.'”

“Right,” DeSantis replied. “That’s for the providers, that’s not for the women.”

“Is a woman not actively participating in the termination of her pregnancy?” O’Donnell asked.

“No,” the governor said. “She’s not a medical practitioner.”

“So, you are not for criminalizing women-?” she asked DeSantis.

“No, absolutely not, and that will not happen in Florida,” he said.

In his CBS interview, DeSantis touched on other topics like foreign policy, the proper age for an American president and border security.

DeSantis has routinely painted himself as being “pro-life,” and vowed to be a “pro-life president” if elected in 2024.

Earlier in September, the Florida Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the 15-week ban.

In June 2022, the American Civil Liberties Union, along with other groups, filed a lawsuit on behalf of groups like Planned Parenthood. The case has made its way up to the Florida Supreme Court after Roe v. Wade was overturned due to Florida’s privacy clause.

The plaintiffs in the ongoing lawsuit argued that the abortion ban is “unconstitutional under the Florida state constitution, which contains an explicit privacy clause that protects individuals’ right to privacy, including abortion.”

State Solicitor General Henry C. Whitaker said the Florida Constitution “does not establish a right to abortion, and the court should overrule its precedents that hold otherwise.”