Texas AG Ken Paxton sues California doctor over abortion pill access

Paxton's lawsuit follows a similar private suit against the same doctor, citing a new Texas law that allows lawsuits over abortion pill distribution.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against an out-of-state telehealth organization and a California doctor, accusing them of illegally providing abortion-inducing pills to Texas residents. The lawsuit cites a new Texas law, House Bill 7, that allows private citizens to sue anyone who manufactures, distributes, mails or provides abortion medication in the state for up to $100,000 in damages.

Why it matters

This lawsuit is part of Texas' broader crackdown on abortion access, particularly the use of abortion pills, following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. The state has already sued other out-of-state providers, and this latest case raises questions about the reach of Texas' laws and whether providers in other states with more permissive laws can be held liable.

The details

Paxton's lawsuit names Aid Access, a nonprofit telehealth organization that provides abortion pills, its founder Dr. Rebecca Gomperts, and California doctor Remy Coeytaux. It claims they are part of a "growing network of out-of-state abortion traffickers that deliberately target Texas residents." The suit alleges Coeytaux illegally provided abortion pills to a Galveston County man's partner. A similar lawsuit by that man, Jerry Rodriguez, was the first to cite the new Texas law.

  • House Bill 7, which allows private lawsuits over abortion pill access, went into effect on December 4, 2025.
  • Rodriguez filed his original lawsuit against Coeytaux in July, alleging the doctor provided his girlfriend with abortion pills at the direction of her ex-husband.
  • Rodriguez's girlfriend took the pills and terminated pregnancies in September 2024 and January 2025.

The players

Ken Paxton

The Attorney General of Texas who has filed the lawsuit against the out-of-state providers.

Aid Access

A nonprofit telehealth organization that focuses on providing abortion-inducing pills to women across the United States, including in places where abortions are illegal like Texas.

Dr. Rebecca Gomperts

The founder of Aid Access, named as a defendant in Paxton's lawsuit.

Dr. Remy Coeytaux

A California doctor named as a defendant in both Paxton's lawsuit and the earlier lawsuit filed by Jerry Rodriguez.

Jerry Rodriguez

A Galveston County man who filed the first lawsuit citing the new Texas law, accusing Coeytaux of providing abortion pills to his partner.

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What they’re saying

“My office will defend the lives of the unborn and relentlessly enforce our state's pro-life laws against Aid Access and other radicals like it.”

— Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General (Press release)

“This law goes against everything Texans value. It's anti-freedom, anti-privacy, and anti-family.”

— Marc Hearron, Associate Litigation Director, Center for Reproductive Rights (News release)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Coeytaux to be sued under the new Texas law.

The takeaway

This lawsuit is the latest in Texas' aggressive efforts to restrict access to abortion pills, even for residents seeking them from out-of-state providers. The outcome could have significant implications for the future of reproductive rights in the state and the ability of Texans to access abortion services.