LINCOLN- In a letter sent on Wednesday, a group of nine state lawmakers asked Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers to clarify his stance on reproductive health privacy and medical autonomy, just one month after Hilgers signed onto a letter opposing a federal rule change that would expand protections for the medical information. Sens. Machaela Cavanaugh, Megan Hunt, Danielle Conrad, Jen Day, John Cavanaugh, George Dungan, John Fredrickson, Carol Blood, and Jane Raybould penned the letter, arguing that the state already has an "unfortunate history" of prosecuting women and health care providers for pregnancy outcomes.

Cited in the letter were recent abortion-related prosecutions in Norfolk, and the senators said they have "grave" and "serious concerns" about the role of law enforcement and prosecutors in investigating and charging women who seek abortions in Nebraska. In the letter, the group of senators say they seek a "prompt and clear response" from Hilgers relating to why it's important for the state's Attorney General to have people's medical records from other states, whether or not that information will be used to aid investigations into individuals who seek reproductive care over state lines, and whether it is Hilgers' intention to prosecute individuals who receive care in other states.

"If these are not your intentions," the group wrote, "please share clearly why it would be necessary to have access to this information without due process of a court order or subpoena." A spokesperson from Hilgers' office confirmed that the Attorney General had received the letter, and will work promptly to answer the questions contained therein after reviewing it.

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