Van Drew Calls Supreme Court Leak 'Inexcusable', No Roe Mention

NEW JERSEY — The leak of the Supreme Court's draft opinion of Dobbs v. Mississippi Department of Health is "inexcusable," according to Congressman Jeff Van Drew (District 2).

"This leak is inexcusable and undermines the sovereignty of our nation's highest court," Van Drew said in a statement. "Regardless of where an individual falls on the political spectrum, this leak compromises the integrity of the Supreme Court and diminishes the public's trust in the judiciary's ability to issue impartial, neutral decisions regarding the most important and controversial issues facing our nation."

Van Drew added that whoever is responsible for the leak should be "held accountable to the extent the law allows."

"This is a clear effort to inflict public backlash of a Supreme Court decision to intimidate the Justices to reverse their position," Van Drew said, noting that the Supreme Court is to follow the Constitution, not their personal beliefs, and without public input.

"The leak of this independent and detailed reasoning of our Justices ruling on Dobbs is an attempt to interject the public into an issue that specifically is to be decided by the great minds appointed to the Supreme Court to accurately and carefully interpret decisions in accordance with our Constitution," Van Drew said.

Unlike other New Jersey government officials, Van Drew did not share his views on the actual content of the draft opinion, which includes the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

News outlet Politico reported Monday night that it had obtained a copy of a draft opinion by conservative Justice Samuel Alito, which strikes down Roe as well as Casey v. Planned Parenthood, which affirmed a woman's right to obtain an abortion.

Read more: Draft Roe V. Wade Opinion Would Cause Seismic Shift In Abortion Policy

Second District Democratic challenger Tim Alexander called the draft opinion "highly disturbing, disheartening, and shameful."

"Decisions on reproductive health should be made privately between a woman and her doctor, without the government's influence," Alexander said in a statement. "Taking that freedom away from half the population based on one's body parts is plain and simple discrimination.

After redistricting, the 2nd District will contain all of Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem Counties. It will also contain from Gloucester County: Logan, Swedesboro, Woolwich, Harrison, South Harrison, Elk, Clayton, Franklin, Newfield and part of East Greenwich. And from Ocean County: Little Egg Harbor, Tuckerton, Beach Haven, Long Beach, Eagleswood, Ship Bottom, Stafford, Surf City, Barnegat, Barnegat Light, Harvey Cedars, Ocean Township (Waretown) and parts of Berkeley and Lacey.