Possible Roe V. Wade Overturn 'A Powerful Step' In Halting Abortion, NJ 4th's Smith Says

NEW JERSEY — Reports that the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade were welcomed by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey's 4th District, who called it "a powerful step" in protecting "the weakest and most vulnerable."

Smith, a Republican who has firmly supported efforts to overturn the landmark 1973 ruling on women's rights to access abortion his entire political career, called the report by Politico on a leaked draft majority opinion by conservative Justice Samuel Alito a tipping point.

Politico reported Monday that it had obtained the draft majority opinion written by Alito and circulated inside the court that strikes down Roe as well as Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the case that affirmed a woman's right to obtain an abortion. Much can change before the court publishes its final decision, likely in June or July. As draft opinions are circulated among justices, votes can and have changed on controversial cases, Politico reported. Read more: Draft Roe V. Wade Opinion Would Cause Seismic Shift In Abortion Policy

Smith called the leak "an egregious abuse of process and trust," but the draft opinion represents "a powerful step towards empowering elected representatives to protect the weakest and most vulnerable. We are at the tipping point."

"A new national debate on abortion has begun and fresh scrutiny must be brought to bear on how the lives of unborn children are destroyed including by dismemberment with sharp knives, pulverization by powerful suction devices, or poisoning by any number of toxic chemicals," Smith said.

"I join millions of Americans who are hopeful that government-sanctioned violence against babies and the exploitation of women by abortion is nearing an end," he said, "although in a very real way, the struggle to defend children in the womb and offer tangible assistance to their mothers now enters a critically important new phase."

Mike Crispi, who is challenging Smith for the Republican nomination in the 4th District, tweeted a comment that simply said: "OVERTURN ROE V. WADE NOW! We must end the vile practice of abortion in this country once and for all."

New Jersey's 4th District will represent the following towns beginning when the new Congress is sworn in January 2023 (see the new map here): In Ocean County, parts of Lacey and Berkeley townships, all of Manchester, Lakehurst, Plumsted, Jackson, Lakewood, Brick, Toms River, South Toms River, Lavallette, Seaside Heights, Seaside Park, Ocean Gate, Pine Beach, Beachwood, Mantoloking, Bay Head, Point Pleasant Beach, Point Pleasant Boro, and in Monmouth County, Brielle, Manasquan, Sea Girt, Spring Lake Heights, Spring Lake, Lake Como, Belmar, Wall, Howell, Farmingdale, Colts Neck, Middletown, Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury Township, Eatontown, Interlaken, Ocean Township, and part of Freehold Township.