Senator Alleges Biden Policy Enabled Forced Abortion Pill Incident

Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, has called on the Department of Justice to investigate an incident involving an Ohio doctor who allegedly used his estranged wife's identity to obtain abortion pills via mail and force them on his pregnant girlfriend. Moreno alleges that a Biden-era drug policy facilitated this "hell on earth tragedy."

According to prosecutors, Dr. Hassan Abbas was sentenced earlier this month for identity fraud and deception to obtain a dangerous drug. The woman involved claims she did not want an abortion and that Abbas held her down to administer the pills. She reported that after escaping, she went to the hospital where she began hemorrhaging.

"My constituent was held down and force-fed crushed-up mail-order abortion pills. When she finally physically escaped, she rushed to the hospital where she began hemorrhaging," Moreno wrote in a letter obtained by Fox News Digital. "Unsurprisingly, reckless Biden-era mail-in abortion policies are responsible for this hell-on-earth tragedy."

The policy in question is a 2023 change to the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) for mifepristone, initiated by the Biden administration's Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This change allowed mifepristone to be prescribed via telehealth and mailed to patients. Moreno contends that this remote access enabled Abbas to obtain the medication without in-person dispensing requirements, which had previously necessitated dispensing at a clinic, medical office, or hospital.

"Without ever setting foot inside a pharmacy, Mr. Abbas procured the mail-order abortion drugs fraudulently using his estranged wife’s name," Moreno stated. "It is hard for me to imagine a wickedness more significant than this."

Moreno also urged Attorney General Todd Blanche to expedite the legal challenge to the FDA rule, specifically the case of Louisiana v. FDA, seeking to reinstate the in-person dispensing requirement. The current rules remain in effect while the legal battle continues. Several Republican lawmakers have also brought the fight over abortion pill access to the Supreme Court, citing coercion and safety risks.

Moreno expressed dissatisfaction with Abbas's plea deal, which resulted in a sentence of six months in jail and two years of probation. "What makes this even worse is that Mr. Hassan Abbas was only sentenced to six months of jail time and two years of probation. How can someone commit a crime so vile and only receive six months of jail time?" Moreno wrote. "I respectfully ask that the Department of Justice review this case and consider if there are federal charges that should be brought."