Beshear: Abortion ban would hurt minors, victims of sexual abuse

Gov. Andy Beshear said if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v Wade this summer, it will mean less protection for minors and people who have suffered sexual abuse.

Beshear spoke to reporters Tuesday, a day after Politico reported on a leaked draft opinion from the Supreme Court which shows the high court moving toward overturning Roe this summer.

The draft could change before the final vote but if the court overturns Roe, Kentucky already has a law in place to ban it. It’s one of 13 states with so-called “trigger laws” set to go into effect if Roe goes away.

“Last year the general assembly passed an act that, if this draft opinion goes through, will create a total ban in Kentucky,” Beshear said. “And that means victims of rape or incest, even the youngest of Kentuckians will have no options.

“Being a former prosecutor who fought for justice for those individuals, they should have those options, and I think most Kentuckians would agree with that.”