White House asked DOJ to hold off on abortion action ahead of midterms

Senior White House officials reportedly instructed the Justice Department to delay abortion-related actions until after November’s midterm elections amid concerns over voter reaction.

The Washington Sun reported that White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles conveyed the message to Attorney General Todd Blanche during discussions described by an unnamed senior administration official.

“No one wants us taking any real action before the midterms,” the official said.

The White House strongly denied the report, saying: “This is completely false. These conversations never occurred between White House officials and DOJ officials.”

The report said anti-abortion leaders had also been told that action could come after the elections.

The DOJ has asked federal judges to pause lawsuits seeking restrictions on mifepristone while the Food and Drug Administration reviews the abortion drug’s safety and effectiveness.

A DOJ spokesperson said the department represents the FDA in the litigation and would investigate any evidence of fraud or harm involving the drugs.