Abortion proposal sparks controversy

Cathrynn Brown

A Republican lawmaker is under fire for a proposal critics say could lead to felony charges against rape victims seeking an abortion, but the legislator maintains the measure is being misrepresented.  

Rep. Cathrynn Brown of Carlsbad said Thursday she'll revise the bill and had intended to make it a crime for a rapist in cases of incest to force a pregnant victim to have an abortion or to arrange for the abortion. 

The bill says the crime of evidence tampering "shall include procuring or facilitating an abortion, or compelling or coercing another to obtain an abortion of a fetus that is the result of criminal sexual penetration or incest with the intent to destroy evidence of the crime." 

New Mexico's Democratic Party chairman calls it an "atrocious piece of legislation."

Abortion proposal sparks controversy