LITTLE ROCK – Lieutenant Governor Tim Griffin issued the following statement regarding the noncompliance of abortion clinics with Governor Asa Hutchinson's directive to cease elective procedures during the public health crisis. Lt. Governor Tim Griffin issued the following statement:

"As I indicated at my press conference Wednesday, abortion clinics should cease procedures. I am pro-life, but abortion rights advocates describe the decision to abort as a 'choice.’ That, by definition, means we can all agree that abortion procedures are elective. Abortion procedures should not be occurring in Arkansas, and I applaud the Health Department's letter ordering them to cease and desist."

Transcript of the press conference on Wednesday, April 8, 2020:

Reporter: "In Texas they’re trying to outlaw abortions. ...The courts have said women’s rights, constitutional rights, can be suspended due to the emergency declaration. Do you think Arkansas should ban abortion during this public health emergency."

Griffin: "Well, the governor has already put out through the Department of Health some very specific guidance on what health care providers should and should not be doing, what they can be doing, in terms of elective surgeries, what’s essential, what’s non essential. That guidance was put out , I believe, last week and it specifically mentions in that guidance, abortion clinics. So I can’t speak for the governor but my understanding is, based on the guidance of the Department of Health, that the abortion clinics should not be operating under the current guidance."

Reporter: "And do you believe that’s how it should be?"

Griffin: "Sure, yes."

Additional information:

Cease and desist letter from the Arkansas Department of Health to abortion clinic.

Arkansas Department of Health Elective Procedures Directive (letter to healthcare facilities)