Missouri Senator Josh Hawley Pushes DOJ to Enforce Comstock Act Against Abortion Information Providers
Missouri Senator Josh Hawley has sent a criminal referral to the Department of Justice (DOJ) targeting Plan C, an organization that provides information on obtaining abortion medication across the United States. This move is part of a broader Republican strategy to leverage the Comstock Act, a 19th-century obscenity law, to restrict abortion-related information. The Comstock Act, historically used to regulate the distribution of obscene materials, was expanded in 1996 to include 'interactive computer services,' which some conservatives argue could be applied to online abortion information. This development comes amid a backdrop of declining support for President Trump and shifting dynamics within the Republican Party, where some members expect concessions from the DOJ in exchange for their support of Todd Blanche, President Trump's nominee for Attorney General.