(COLUMBUS) - An Ohio advocacy organization is asking federal prosecutors to investigate providers that distribute abortion medication through the mail.
The Center for Christian Virtue, based in Columbus, sent a letter to U.S. Attorneys Dominick Gerace II and David M. Toepfer requesting enforcement of the federal Comstock Act, an 1873 law that includes restrictions on mailing abortion-related materials.
The group asked federal prosecutors to open investigations into mail-order abortion providers that ship mifepristone, coordinate with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and pursue prosecutions where appropriate.
Center for Christian Virtue President Aaron Baer argued in the letter that federal authorities have discretion in how they enforce the law but said that discretion does not eliminate the law's requirements.
The request comes as legal disputes over abortion medication continue nationwide. The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed telehealth distribution of abortion medication to continue while related litigation proceeds.
The Center for Christian Virtue contends the Comstock Act remains enforceable and applies to modern mail-order distribution of abortion drugs, including mifepristone.
Abortion rights organization Abortion Forward criticized the request. Executive Director Kellie Copeland said Ohioans should continue to have access to medication through telehealth providers and argued the effort interferes with personal medical decisions.
Neither of Ohio's U.S. Attorney's offices had publicly commented on the letter as of Tuesday.
The issue is expected to remain part of ongoing legal and political debates over abortion medication access as courts continue reviewing related cases.