Louisiana’s AG is suing blue-state governors for shielding doctors accused of mailing abortion pills into the state, exposing women and minors to unregulated drugs and defying the U.S. Constitution.
Story Snapshot
- Louisiana AG Liz Murrill plans federal lawsuit against CA Gov. Gavin Newsom and NY Gov. Kathy Hochul to force extradition of indicted doctors.
- Doctors Remy Coeytaux (CA) and Margaret Carpenter (NY) charged with felonies for mailing pills to Louisiana in coercion and minor cases.
- Blue states’ “shield laws” block extradition, prompting invocation of Extradition and Full Faith and Credit Clauses.
- Murrill calls pill mailing “drug dealing,” not healthcare, citing health risks and state sovereignty.
Louisiana Indicts Doctors for Illegal Pill Shipments
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill indicted California doctor Remy Coeytaux on January 8, 2026, in St. Tammany Parish. Coeytaux faces charges for mailing abortion pills ordered by a woman’s estranged husband, who coerced her into use. New York doctor Margaret Carpenter was indicted in 2025 for sending pills to a Louisiana teenage girl. These cases violate Louisiana’s strict post-Dobbs abortion bans, which prohibit mifepristone and misoprostol except in narrow exceptions. Murrill frames the actions as felony drug trafficking that endangers women.
Blue States Defy Extradition with Shield Laws
On February 5, 2026, Louisiana sent formal extradition requests to California and New York. Governors Gavin Newsom and Kathy Hochul refused, citing state shield laws that protect abortion providers from out-of-state prosecution. Newsom posted a vulgar retort to Murrill on X, telling her to “Go f*** yourself.” Murrill responded with “Bless your heart” and vowed a federal lawsuit, declaring the governors are not above the Constitution. New York AG Letitia James called Louisiana’s actions “un-American.”
Murrill Escalates to Federal Court Battle
Murrill plans to sue Newsom and Hochul directly in federal court, invoking the Extradition Clause and Full Faith and Credit Clause. These constitutional provisions require states to honor each other’s laws and extradite fugitives. Louisiana enforces some of the nation’s strictest abortion restrictions since the 2022 Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade. Shield laws enable mail-order abortions, with data showing about 900 monthly shipments to Louisiana despite bans. Murrill testified in January 2026 Senate hearings, labeling schemes “organized drug dealing.”
Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), a physician, criticized Newsom for enabling coercion, stating he should be ashamed. The cases highlight risks like emergency room visits from complications and non-consensual use. Coeytaux links to a prior Texas coercion lawsuit. Murrill co-led a federal FDA suit demanding in-person visits for abortion drugs and a 2025 multi-AG letter challenging shield laws.
Constitutional Clash Threatens State Sovereignty
This interstate standoff pits red-state sovereignty against blue-state reproductive rights agendas. Louisiana prioritizes protecting women from health risks and coercion, including minors. Shield laws undermine Louisiana’s authority to prosecute crimes within its borders. A federal ruling could force extraditions, strike down shields, or spark more AG lawsuits nationwide. Long-term, it may reshape telehealth abortion and prompt federal intervention, aligning with President Trump’s focus on law and order.
Pro-life advocates see shields as enabling illegal activity that erodes family values and state rights. Pro-choice views frame prosecutions as attacks on bodily autonomy. Facts show consistency on indictments and refusals, though framing differs. Uncertainties remain on lawsuit timing and outcomes, with no independent ER data verification.
Sources:
Louisiana AG moves to sue California, New York over abortion pill access
Gavin Newsom tells Liz Murrill ‘go f*** yourself’ over abortion pill prescription lawsuit
