A Virginia lawmaker emailed her constituents Wednesday evening, apologizing to those she represents for supporting the commonwealth’s controversial abortion bill.
“Dear friends,” Del. Dawn Adams wrote, “I made a mistake.”
Adams, a Democrat representing Richmond, co-sponsored HB 2491, which would have eliminated most hurdles to late-term abortions, even clearing the way for women at the beginning stages of labor to still terminate their pregnancies.
The bill was touted by Democratic Del. Kathy Tran, who represents Fairfax, and ultimately failed. But not before Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam expressed support for the proposal.
Looking back, Adams, a nurse practitioner by trade, said she would not have attached her name to the legislation had she paid more attention to all the restrictions the bill would have rolled back.
“I am sorry that I did not exercise due diligence before this explosion of attention,” she wrote. “Had I done so, I would not have co-patroned.”
Adams explained she thought the bill was centered on overturning the “onerous” requirement established in 2012 by Republicans. The previous legislation stated women who underwent abortion had to first see an ultrasound image of their unborn child.
“While it did [overturn the 2012 bill], it sought to do much more,” the lawmaker wrote. “Had I researched each line of removed language, I would have seen that, and known that there was more research to be done.”
NFL Tight End Benjamin Watson Shuts Down VA Abortion Debate in One Tweet
The Democrat clarified, “None of this changes that I believe women must have safe legal options for abortion; but I also would have seen the utility of language that provides guidelines for how to ensure this.”
According to The Richmond Times-Dispatch, Adams noted via text message that while she continues to support Tran, the legislation her liberal colleague was advocating put her in an “untenable situation.”
President Donald Trump weighed in on the matter Wednesday, describing the failed Virginia proposal as “terrible.”
“Do you remember when I said [during a 2016 presidential debate] Hillary Clinton was willing to rip the baby out of the womb? That’s what it is, that’s what they’re doing, it’s terrible,” he told The Daily Caller.
Democrats are becoming the Party of late term abortion, high taxes, Open Borders and Crime!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 31, 2019
Faithwire reached out to Adams for comment but did not hear back by press time.