Reproductive Equity Now Statement on the Potential Nomination of D. John Sauer to Serve as Solicitor General
BOSTON (November 20, 2024) – Following the news that President-elect Donald Trump intends to nominate D. John Sauer to serve as the Solicitor General of the United States, Rebecca Hart Holder, President of Reproductive Equity Now, released the following statement:
“The nomination of D. John Sauer to serve as Solicitor General is the most straightforward attack on abortion yet. Sauer has built his career around eliminating access to abortion care in Missouri. He’s gone so far as to defend the insidious practice of tracking the menstruation cycles of Missourians, a policy that echoes plans in Project 2025 to create a national database of pregnant people. As the chief litigator for the nation, Sauer would be tasked with arguing on behalf of the Trump Administration during disputes with state policy makers, which will likely include suits regarding state abortion laws. Sauer has made clear that he is a friend and ally both to anti-abortion political leaders and activists, and that he will welcome with open arms more legal attacks on abortion access. We are already seeing that a second Trump administration will be hellbent on surveilling, controlling, and coercing pregnant people, and it is crucial that both the Senate reject this nomination and that state leaders across the nation prepare to protect their constituents from anti-abortion attacks at the hands of federal prosecutors.”
During his legal career, D. John Sauer:
Defended the state of Missouri when it unjustly revoked the operating license of the last remaining abortion clinic in the state. During the trial, it was revealed that the Missouri Department of Public Health maintained a policy of tracking the menstruation history of patients of the clinic.
Defended the state of Missouri when a state law sought to deny Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood for non-abortion services
Signed onto an amicus brief in support of an Arizona law that would restrict access to abortion care based on a patient’s reasoning for terminating their pregnancy
Signed on to a motion to prevent the selection of presidential electors in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Wisconsin, and Michigan during the certification process of the 2020 election
Represented President Trump in his effort to secure presidential immunity in front of the Supreme Court with respect to his alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election
Represented President Trump in his appeal against E. Jean Carroll, after Trump was found liable for defamation and sexual assault
In his personal capacity, D. John Sauer also donated large sums to anti-abortion activist organizations in Missouri, including Missouri Right to Life.
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