A prominent pro-life organization has voiced strong criticism toward ABC News following Tuesday’s presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, a leading pro-life advocacy group, sent a letter on Wednesday to ABC News president Almin Karamehmedovic and debate moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis, requesting a correction regarding a moment during the debate where Davis fact-checked Trump on abortion-related comments.
During the debate, Trump referred to controversial remarks made by former Virginia Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam in 2019, which centered around rare third-trimester abortions. Trump’s reference was swiftly fact-checked by Davis, who responded, “There is no state in this country where it is legal to kill a baby after it’s born.”
The statement from Davis prompted Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America president Marjorie Dannenfelser to claim that the moderator’s remarks were inaccurate. In the letter, Dannenfelser wrote, “[The] statement tragically ignores the reality of babies who survive failed, late-term abortions but are denied basic medical care and left to die.” She called for an immediate correction from Davis and ABC News.
The pro-life group cited various claims to support their request, including data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which reported that between 2003 and 2014, an estimated 143 babies died after being born alive following failed abortions. The letter also referenced a report about Minnesota, where eight infant deaths were recorded among those who survived abortion attempts during Gov. Tim Walz’s tenure.
Dannenfelser further highlighted that Vice President Harris, during her time as a U.S. senator, voted against legislation designed to protect babies born alive after failed abortions, while Gov. Walz had once issued an apology for inadvertently voting in favor of such protections, having previously opposed them.
Despite these assertions, multiple fact-checkers after the debate pointed out that Trump’s abortion comments were misleading. CBS News emphasized that infanticide is illegal in all 50 states, and Harris, along with Walz, has never supported such practices. Similarly, NPR referenced a Kaiser Family Foundation report stating that abortions "after birth" are illegal across the country.
The pro-life group concluded their letter by requesting an in-person meeting with ABC News to discuss the issue further and to allow abortion survivors to share their experiences directly with network executives.
The debate also touched on broader abortion policies, with Harris notably sidestepping a question from Davis about whether she supports any restrictions on abortion rights. This exchange, along with Davis’ fact-check of Trump, became a focal point for discussions on abortion in the debate’s aftermath.
News Source: FOX NEWS