Stothert holding off on key abortion question

One of Nebraska’s top pro-life elected officials is playing wait and see when it comes to a specific and controversial abortion issue. 

With the Supreme Court poised to overturn Roe v Wade and the possibility that the Nebraska Legislature will make abortion in the state illegal, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert isn’t saying what role Omaha police should have in abortion-related investigations.

“I’d have to think about this, a little bit,” Stothert said at a Tuesday news conference when questioned by News Channel Nebraska’s Joe Jordan.

[View video above]

NCN’s Joe Jordan: “Mayor should the Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade and the Nebraska Legislature outlaw abortion, should the Omaha Police Department investigate abortion cases?”

Mayor Stothert: “That’s something that I don’t feel I can honestly give you an accurate answer right now. Because I’d have to think about this, a little bit. We just have to wait and see what happens.”

According to legislation that came up two votes short in the Legislature earlier this year—a so-called “trigger bill” (LB933) which would have kicked in once Roe v. Wade is overturned—the woman “upon whom an abortion is performed or attempted receiving an abortion” would not be prosecuted.

At the same time, “it shall be unlawful for any person to administer, prescribe, sell, or otherwise provide any medicine, drug or other substance…or employ any instrument or procedure… with the specific intent of causing or abetting the termination of the life of an unborn child.”

That same bill had exceptions involving the life of the mother, but no exceptions in cases of rape and incest.

It’s not clear if the language in that trigger bill would be condensed or expanded by the next group of lawmakers considering such legislation.