January 1, South Dakota Governor Says State Will Prosecute Doctors Who Perform Abortions

Gov. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) says that doctors who perform abortions in South Dakota will be targeted for prosecution.

Noem’s comments come after a new trigger law went into effect in her state after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on Friday.

“We’ll continue to have those debates on how we can support these mothers and what it means to really make sure we are not prosecuting mothers ever in a situation like this,” Noem said during an interview with CBS’s Face the Nation.

“It will always be focused toward those doctors who knowingly break the law to perform abortions in our state.”

The South Dakota governor defended her state’s abortion restrictions, saying that “every life is precious.”

“We know so much more using technology and science than we did even 10, 15 years ago about what these babies go through and the pain they feel in the womb,” Noem said.

“We’re putting resources in front of these women and walking alongside them, getting them the health care, the mental health counseling services they need.”