Sen. Josh Hawley has requested that the Justice Department open a criminal investigation into Plan C, a group he alleges is operating as a "referral and logistics hub" for distributing abortion pills into states where they are legally restricted. In a letter sent Thursday to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Hawley stated that Plan C connects individuals with abortion pill manufacturers, foreign clinics, and online vendors that ship the medications into the United States, circumventing state laws.
Hawley described Plan C as a "left-wing dark-money operation" that directs women in states such as Florida, Oklahoma, and Texas to foreign clinics willing to mail abortion pills, despite state prohibitions. The senator also noted that the group directs users to online vendors selling abortion drugs without requiring prescriptions, identification, or medical consultations, even though Plan C's own website acknowledges that some of these sources are not regulated by the U.S. government.
The senator pointed out that Plan C advises users on how to minimize their "digital footprint" by recommending privacy-focused browsers, virtual private networks, and encrypted email. The group's website also includes a disclaimer that users could face legal consequences for obtaining abortion pills through the recommended services, stating it is "up to every individual to decide what level of legal risk they are willing to take."
Furthermore, Hawley alleged that Plan C directs individuals to providers offering abortion pills up to 14 weeks of pregnancy, exceeding the Food and Drug Administration's approved labeling for mifepristone and the limits set by several states. Hawley argued that this conduct could violate federal laws, including provisions of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, laws prohibiting the importation of unapproved drugs into interstate commerce, and federal conspiracy and aiding-and-abetting statutes.
"I therefore respectfully refer this matter to the Department to open a criminal investigation into Plan C, its relationship with potential co-conspirator manufacturers, and the network of suppliers it promotes," Hawley wrote. He added that the investigation should encompass foreign clinics and online vendors shipping abortion drugs into the United States. Fox News Digital reached out to Plan C for comment.