Harris says GOP notion that Democrats want abortion access until birth 'ridiculous'

Vice President Harris said in an interview that airs Sunday the notion that Republicans spread about Democrats wanting abortion access until birth was "ridiculous" but avoided answering at what week she believes the cut off to such access should be.

CBS News’ Margaret Brennan pressed Harris on what week of pregnancy should access to abortion be cut off, emphasizing that Democrats do not have the votes in the Senate to restore the protections outlined in Roe v. Wade, which was overturned by a Supreme Court decision last June.

“Let me be — let me be very clear,” Harris said in the interview airing Sunday on “Face the Nation.” “From day one, the president has been clear, I have been clear. We need to put back the protections that are in Roe v. Wade into law. Since the Supreme Court took it, Congress has the power and ability to pass legislation to put those protections back in law and Joe Biden will sign that bill. So, that is what we want.”

She added that Democrats are not trying to “do anything that did not exist before June of last year.” Brennan pushed her harder on offering up a specific week, pointing to Republicans’ concerns.

“And that's why I'm asking you for the specifics there, because Republicans say the lack of a precise date in cutting it off  — you know this — they say that allows Democrats to perform abortions up until, you know, birth,” Brennan said. 

Harris said that that idea was “ridiculous,” as Brennan asked her if she needed to be more “precise” about what the administration wants in terms of abortion access. The CBS host asked if she would be open to proposals that give some access to abortion through 15 weeks, or if she believes that it should not be determined based on the week of pregnancy.

“I believe that we should put the protections of Roe v. Wade into law, and the way that will happen is if we have a United States Congress, who regardless of their personal view for themselves or their family, would agree that the women of America should be trusted to make decisions about their life and their body based on what they know to be in their best interest,” Harris said. “It's that simple.”

Harris has been at the center of the White House's push to restore abortion access since Roe v. Wade was overturned last year. She has attacked Republicans on abortion bans, as well as voting rights and book bans over the las few months.