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King County won’t help out-of-state police enforce abortion bans

By Graham Johnson, KIRO 7 News
By Graham Johnson, KIRO 7 News

KING COUNTY, Wash. — On Tuesday, King County Executive Dow Constantine signed an executive order prohibiting certain public servants from helping police outside Washington enforce bans on abortion.

The order specifically prevents sheriff’s deputies and detention and public health workers from assisting other states in carrying out restrictions on abortion.

“When Idaho, Texas, Ohio, Missouri or any other jurisdictions decide to hunt down and prosecute their residents for seeking abortion care, those jurisdictions will get no help from King County,” Constantine said. The order came soon after the Metropolitan King County Council voted 8-1 to send $500,000 to the Northwest Abortion Access fund, which helps people traveling for health care services.

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Only councilmember Reagan Dunn voted no.

“This is a short-term emergency response to a problem that was created by the Supreme Court decision,” Council Chair Claudia Balducci said.

Brad Payne of the Family Policy Institute of Washington said the money should be spent elsewhere.

“I would be much more thrilled if the amount of money being put toward abortion services was being redirected towards adoption services,” Payne said.

Planned Parenthood predicts a 385% increase in women coming to Washington for abortions.

“We’re seeing patients from all over the country already,” said Jennifer Allen of Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, who joined Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) for a news conference Tuesday at the University of Washington.

Cantwell said she is seeking answers from the U.S. Department of Justice about how laws in other states might put Washington health care workers at risk.

“What I don’t like about this situation is the chilling effect,” she said. “It is almost saying to people, ‘you can’t take the risk of providing this service. You don’t know who’s going to come after you.’”

Cantwell said when she gets a response from the U.S. Attorney General, she will work on national legislation to protect the health care system if necessary.

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