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Republican Jim Bopp—a conservative lawyer best known for work associated with anti-abortion model legislation—was criticized after he claimed a 10-year-old girl who was raped in Ohio and had to seek an abortion in a neighboring state would "ultimately benefit" from being forced to carry a child.
The account of a 10-year-old girl who was raped and forced to leave her home state of Ohio for an abortion first garnered national attention after Democratic President Joe Biden mentioned it during a major speech about abortion policy shortly after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark decision that once protected a person's right to choose reproductive healthcare without excessive government restriction.
\u201cyour reminder that a ten year old child was raped and impregnated and the top three Republican responses were "it's a hoax," "it's a blessing" and "prosecute the doctor who helped her." fucking ghouls\u201d— Jeff Tiedrich (@Jeff Tiedrich) 1658153753
In Ohio, there are no exceptions that would qualify a person for an abortion—not even in cases of rape or incest—and the draconian nature of these laws is what prompted the 10-year-old and her family to cross state lines to get the procedure.
Bopp made the remark during an interview with Politico, telling the publication he believes the girl should have been forced to give birth.
Bopp is the author of model legislation currently under consideration in Indiana that would have made the child ineligible to have an abortion in that state, too.
\u201cNEW: The powerful Indiana attorney Jim Bopp told POLITICO the 10-year-old Ohio girl who crossed state lines to receive an abortion here should have carried her pregnancy to term and would have been required to do so under his law. W/ @meganmesserly. https://t.co/QHns484kQQ\u201d— Adam Wren (@Adam Wren) 1657817951
He said that the young girl "would have had the baby" and that like "many women who have had babies as a result of rape, we would hope that she would understand the reason and ultimately the benefit of having the child."
His remarks were widely condemned by many who accused him of condoning the rape of a child.
\u201cWhen people tell you who they are, believe them.\u201d— David Corn (@David Corn) 1657832911
\u201cGiven how monstrous these people are, slam them. Ask: "If they survive, should mother & child attend the same elementary school? Would the 8th grader have to attend parent conferences for the kindergartner? If the kindergartner misbehaves, will teachers call the 8th grader?"\u201d— Kurt Eichenwald (@Kurt Eichenwald) 1657824421
\u201cJust so we are really crystal-clear on who the actual child abusers are.\u201d— Jill Filipovic (@Jill Filipovic) 1657827450
\u201c[SA]\n\nA ten year old body can almost certainly not carry a pregnancy to term in a safe way.\n\nIt could very possibly kill her. It would definitely destroy her physically and emotionally.\n\nJim Bopp is okay with killing a raped fourth grader.\u201d— Hillary Monahan (@Hillary Monahan) 1657828476
\u201cAnyone who refers to a 10-year-old girl as a WOMAN should probably be behind bars\u201d— blaire erskine (@blaire erskine) 1657829421
\u201cMake more Republicans say these things out loud: "A 10yo child who was raped by an adult man should have to go to her 4th grade classes while pregnant against her will before she gives birth which has a high risk for complications or death. And I would make this required by law."\u201d— Alison McQuade (@Alison McQuade) 1657832814
\u201cRepublicans are sticking to their word:\n\nThey think innocent little 10 year old girls who were raped should be FORCED to carry the pregnancy AND THEY HAVE TO SHARE CUSTODY with the rapist.\n\nRepublikkkans ARE TRULY EVIL F's.\u201d— K. Sennholz MD (@K. Sennholz MD) 1657849571
\u201cJim Bopp is pro-rape, pro-birth, and pro-control of people with uterus\u2019. She\u2019s 10 years old. You\u2019re fucking sick in the head if you think this would be an opportunity. SHE WOULD MOST LIKELY BE DEAD IF SHE GAVE BIRTH TOO!!!!!!! That is NOT pro-life.\u201d— Ozzy (@Ozzy) 1657849948
\u201cThere's a reason we say "pregnant people" instead of just "women" \u2014 a 10-year-old girl is not a woman. A 10-year-old is a child.\u201d— Women's March (@Women's March) 1657909879
The case of the 10-year-old girl has sparked significant discussion, underscoring the harsh realities for Americans who can get pregnant in the weeks since Roe was overturned.
Local police arrested Columbus resident Gerson Fuentes, 27, after he confessed to raping the child on at least two occasions. Fuentes has been charged with first-degree rape, a felony in the state.
Franklin County Municipal Court Judge Cynthia Ebner ordered Fuentes be held in the Franklin County jail on $2 million bond, noting that he is a potential flight risk.