One of the sponsors of Virginia’s controversial abortion bill cited “security and safety concerns” as the reason behind the postponement of a scheduled town hall meeting.
Democratic state lawmakers had to table the event in Lorton on Saturday which was to have constituents meet with state Sens. Scott Surovell and George Barker as well as Del. Kathy Tran, a co-sponsor of Virginia’s Repeal Act, a bill that sought to loosen restrictions on third-trimester abortions, Fox News reported.
“Unfortunately, we are postponing our joint legislative town hall meeting scheduled for Saturday, February 2 due to security and safety concerns for our constituents who planned to attend as well as participants coming to youth sports activities at South County High School,” Tran wrote in a post on Facebook.
“We value talking to constituents about their concerns for our community and how we can help address them,” the first-term delegate from Fairfax County continued. “We had looked forward to continuing this dialogue and sharing legislative updates this weekend. While we are very disappointed to have to make this decision, the safety of our neighbors and constituents is paramount.
“We will update our constituents once our town hall is rescheduled. We will continue to make ourselves available to hear our constituents’ priorities, including those with differing opinions,” she concluded.
The 41-year-old mother of four came under fire earlier this week after video of her speaking about the bill allowing abortion up until birth was slammed as it went viral.
Virginia House Democrats propose legislation to allow abortions up until the moment of birth
Todd Gilbert (R): Where it’s obvious a woman is about to give birth…would that be a point at which she could still request an abortion?
Kathy Tran (D): My bill would allow that, yes pic.twitter.com/UHgzU3EGDA
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) January 29, 2019
Virginia’s Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam stepped into the mess as well, commenting on Tran’s bill while appearing to suggest leaving babies to die even after birth.
Tran attempted to clarify her remarks, telling The Washington Post she “misspoke” in her comments on the bill, HB 2491, which was defeated by Republicans in the Virginia Assembly.
“I wish that I was quicker on my feet and I wish that I was able to be more agile in that moment,” she said. “And I misspoke, and I really regret that.”
In a video she posted on social media, the Democratic lawmaker addressed what she said was “misinformation” about the bill and sought to explain her position.
Over the last few days, you may have heard a lot of misinformation about my bill to help women make their own healthcare decisions in consultation with their doctors.
Here are the facts, straight from me.#IStandWithWomen pic.twitter.com/egMO2euUHe
— Kathy Tran (@KathyKLTran) January 31, 2019
Tran, who came to the U.S. at the age of seven with her family from Vietnam, claimed that women in her district have supported her efforts to “make sure that politicians don’t get between a woman and her healthcare decisions.”
She also addressed the controversy that she sparked with the bill and her initial remarks in a speech to her colleagues Friday on the House of Delegates floor.
DELEGATE TRAN on #VirginiaAbortionBill controversy:
“I was really just simply caught off guard by the tenor of the questions…
I regrettably misspoke…
I deeply regret that this debate has been politicized,” Del. Kathy Tran says today on the House of Delegates floor. pic.twitter.com/v1VsZ9lj1L— Jason Calvi (@JasonCalvi) February 1, 2019
But Tran’s attempts to quell the controversy and to clarify her position seemed to make matters worse as the outrage continued over the bill allowing late-term abortions that could take place up to the moment a woman is in labor.
TODAY:
Democrat Kathy Tran: “women are able to access an abortion in the later stages of pregnancy…I’ve done nothing to change that”
MONDAY:
Question: “For an abortion at any point in the 3rd trimester, you’re changing the standard?”
Tran: “I’m changing the standard, yes.” pic.twitter.com/JHGaqscTCk
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) January 31, 2019
We only heard what you said, which is that you’d allow babies to be killed while the mother is going into labor, and it only goes further downhill from there. Honestly, do you people not know the controversy is stemming from VIDEO OF YOU SAYING THESE THINGS?
— dragon energy industry lobbyist (@Swags_McGee_96) January 31, 2019
There is no medical condition in a mother or unborn baby that necessitates a late term abortion. Anytime a Democrat claims “health of the mother” as a reason to support late term abortion… they’re lying.
— Liz Wheeler (@Liz_Wheeler) January 31, 2019
Sorry. Your bill speaks for itself. This time, we didn’t have to pass the bill to find out what was in it.
— TheFracDog (@TheFracDog) January 31, 2019
Va. Delegate Kathy Tran comments about the viral video of her that’s circulating. pic.twitter.com/i3XrsuMQhu
— Andrew Kugle (@AndrewJKugle) January 31, 2019
Kathy Tran’s defense to this video will now be–Who are you going to believe, me, or your lying eyes and ears?
— Robert Arce (@robertrarce) January 31, 2019
The extremists on the Left conveniently change their tune when there’s a backlash. But the agenda remains the same.
— Bob Wilkie (@bob_wilkie) January 31, 2019
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