‘Stunning Breach of Protocol’: CNN’s Paula Reid Marvels At Leak of Second Abortion Ruling From Supreme Court

CNN’s chief legal correspondent, Paula Reid, was stunned by the Wednesday leak of yet another Supreme Court decision on abortion, following the bombshell leak of the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade two years ago.

“We begin with breaking news. The Supreme Court appearing poised to side with the Biden administration on a critical abortion case. This according to a document mistakenly posted on the court’s website. The copy, reviewed by Bloomberg, showed the court voting 6 to 3 to allow emergency abortions to take place in Idaho on a temporary basis, while the case continues through the lower courts,” reported anchor Boris Sanchez before Reid was asked to weigh in.

“So this reporting is coming from Bloomberg Law. At this point, they have not posted what they say is an opinion that was inadvertently posted on the Supreme Court website. We have not reviewed it ourselves. But in a statement, the Supreme Court acknowledges that a document was posted,” Reid began, adding:

And I want to read their statement because they’re pretty careful with the language, the statement from the Supreme Court, quote, ‘The opinion in Moyle v. The United States and Idaho, the United States, this case has not been released. The court’s publications unit inadvertently and briefly uploaded a document to the court’s website. The court’s opinion in this case will be issued in due course.”

So it does appear that they’re trying to differentiate between a formal opinion and this document that was posted there. But all right, two big things. The first is what it appears that they may have decided. And then how is this the second time that we’re having a leak of a major abortion case? Let’s take first what they decided according to what Bloomberg Law saw. They’re saying that the justices in a 6-3 decision sided with the Biden administration, and they will allow abortions to be performed in the state of Idaho in emergency situations, and not just in situations where a woman’s life is at risk. Now, the other question is, of course, this is the second time that a major abortion-related ruling has leaked inadvertently out of the Supreme Court.

It’s a stunning breach of protocol, and it’s notable because we were about 36 hours out from our debate, which is, I think everyone would agree, a pivotal moment in this campaign. There are at least ten cases still pending that haven’t been released. We only have two days, and it’s unclear if any of these are opinions. Specifically, the abortion one would come out before the debate. Now I’ve reached out to the stakeholders, the Justice Department, the White House, even the Trump campaign, because this is something that both campaigns are watching very closely. A decision that could potentially have an impact on November. Everyone so far declining to comment until the actual opinion is released.

Watch the clip above.

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