Tina Freitas, a Republican challenging incumbent state Sen. Emmett Hanger (R-Mount Solon) in Virginia’s 24th district, said that she wants to ban abortion, calling it an “abhorrent, barbaric act,” and comparing her efforts to those of the abolitionist movement. She also claimed that abortion providers were covering up for rapists and domestic abusers.
Freitas made her controversial statements on the John Fredericks radio show, the same conservative talk radio program where Del. Bob Thomas (R-Stafford) made his desire to ban abortion known.
Freitas also praised Alabama’s recent abortion ban and said that “we are starting to value life again,” before adding that it “starts with a few states. That’s how abolition started.”
Her outlandish comments didn’t end there. She also said: “A lot of times it’s the abuser that’s taking the girl in to get the abortion, to wipe away his evidence of abuse so that he can take her back and abuse her some more.”
Freitas’ views are decisively out of the mainstream, as more than 70% of Virginians support abortion rights. But between her comments and those from Delegate Bob Thomas, there are now at least two Virginia Republicans who want to ban abortion access altogether.
The Republican primary between Freitas and Hanger will take place on June 11, and whoever wins will take on Democratic candidate Annette Hyde in November.
Audio of Freitas’ interview was first flagged by American Bridge 21st Century, a liberal super PAC.
