Governor Jeff Landry signs extradition warrant for New York doctor

BATON ROUGE (WGNO) — Governor Jeff Landry has signed an extradition warrant for New York doctor Margaret Carpenter, accused of prescribing a Louisiana mother Mifepristone, an abortion pill illegal in Louisiana. The mother then allegedly gave the pills to her underaged daughter.

New York governor Kathy Hochul refuses to extradite the doctor to Louisiana despite Landry’s push.

“There’s only one right answer to this situation, and that’s that doctor must face extradition to Louisiana where she should face trial and justice should be served,” Landry said.

Hochul argues that New York’s shield laws protects Carpenter. These specific laws prevent prosecution when states’ laws differ.

“She can administer drugs, according to New York law, to anyone in any state, even a state where abortion is banned, because New York protects her,” WGNO legal analyst Cliff Cardone said.

Cardone says it seems as if both states are currently locked in a stalemate.

“I don’t see any circumstances where this doctor can be mandated to come here at the present time,” Cardone said.

While Carpenter may be safe in New York, Cardone says she may want to be careful about her travel plans in the near future.

“If she travels to a state where they don’t subscribe to the shield protection laws then she might be arrested there and be turned over,” Cardone said.

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