Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline, a staunch abortion opponent and former state representative, has demanded the complete medical records of almost 90 women who either had an abortion after 22 weeks of pregnancy (illegal in Kansas except when a woman’s health is at stake, per legislation co-written by Kline), or an abortion at any stage of pregnancy when they were under the age of 15. Kline claims that he needs the files to prosecute cases of statutory rape (sex with a minor under 16, referred to by Kline as “child rape”) and “other crimes” that threaten Kansas children. Though, as The New York Times notes, there’s probably little information in the records that could identify for prosecution the men who impregnated the minors, this doesn’t seem to be a problem for Kline. Abortion-rights advocates suggest that’s because he’s more concerned with prosecuting the vaguely-defined “other crimes,” and that the child abuse rhetoric is a cover to target doctors who provided late-term abortions or health professionals who did not report the abortions of minors. These health care workers could potentially be prosecuted for failing to report instances of teenage sex under a state law that requires health workers to report suspicions of child sex abuse. Kline’s order for the records comes a year after his failed attempt to require state health workers to report sexual activity among girls under age 16. Today, 14 Kansas representatives — all women, all Democrats — have called for Kline to stop seeking the records.

Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline, a staunch abortion opponent and former state representative, has demanded the complete medical records of almost 90 women who either had an abortion after 22 weeks of pregnancy (illegal in Kansas except when a woman’s health is at stake, per legislation co-written by Kline), or an abortion at any stage of pregnancy when they were under the age of 15. Kline claims that he needs the files to prosecute cases of statutory rape (sex with a minor under 16, referred to by Kline as “child rape”) and “other crimes” that threaten Kansas children. Though, as The New York Times notes, there’s probably little information in the records that could identify for prosecution the men who impregnated the minors, this doesn’t seem to be a problem for Kline. Abortion-rights advocates suggest that’s because he’s more concerned with prosecuting the vaguely-defined “other crimes,” and that the child abuse rhetoric is a cover to target doctors who provided late-term abortions or health professionals who did not report the abortions of minors. These health care workers could potentially be prosecuted for failing to report instances of teenage sex under a state law that requires health workers to report suspicions of child sex abuse. Kline’s order for the records comes a year after his failed attempt to require state health workers to report sexual activity among girls under age 16. Today, 14 Kansas representatives — all women, all Democrats — have called for Kline to stop seeking the records.