In the United States, women can be prosecuted for pregnancy outcomes, including abortion and miscarriage. Such a case took place in 2015 in Indiana, when Purvi Patel was sentenced to 20 years in prison for managing her own abortion. The sentence was eventually reduced and she was released, but this never should have happened in the first place.

We spoke to Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA) after a ‘pro-life’ press conference filled with false, inflammatory claims about abortion and abortion providers. Congressman Wittman, a member of the anti-LGBTQ ‘Values Action Team,’ responded only in talking points instead of addressing our questions about women going to jail. This comes at a time where Virginia has been a breeding ground for false information regarding abortion, including abortion later in pregnancy. Sitting Virginia state legislator Kathy Tran even received death threats for attempting to improve abortion access laws in the state.

While talking to Reproaction, Congressman Wittman made comments ignoring women, and after being repeatedly pressed for failing to acknowledge women in any way whatsoever, claimed his anti-choice stance is “protecting the women by protecting their children.”

His response is unacceptable. Women need protection from prosecutors already going after them for pregnancy outcomes, including self-managed abortion. Share our video and sign the petition demanding Rep. Wittman denounce criminalization of abortion.