“Don’t believe it for one second”: Texas arrests midwife, accuses her of providing illegal abortions

Texas Public Prosecutor Ken Pakston He announced the first arrests of his term under the 2021 law, criminalizing almost all abortion.

Pacton Share on Monday The state has arrested the 48 -year -old Maria Margareta Rojas on charges of “providing illegal abortion and operating a network of clinics illegally.” Rojas is accused of illegal performance of abortion, a second -degree felony in the state under the 2021 law. An employee in Rojas, Jose Lee, was also arrested. The husband faces prison for up to 20 years if they are convicted.

“In Texas, life is sacred. I will always do everything in the endeavor to protect the laws that support life in our state, and I am working to ensure that unlicensed individuals are exposed to the life of women by carrying out illegal abortions in full trial,” Pakston said in a statement. “The Texas Law that protects life is clear, and we will hold those who violate it.”

Rojas ran many clinics in the Houston area. Backston claims that his office requested a temporary restriction order to close these clinics. Holly Sherman, the midwife who worked with Rojas, refused to give credibility to the charges against her.

“I can’t believe it for one second,” she said to Texas Tribune. “I knew her eight years ago and I haven’t heard her talking about anything like that. I can’t photograph Maria participating in something like this.”