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| Donald Trump: Punish women for illegal abortions | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Presidential candidate Donald Trump has called for "some form of punishment" for women who have abortions, if the procedure became illegal. | |
| However, the Republican front-runner did not disclose what that punishment would be, during a town hall event with cable network MSBNC. | |
| Mr Trump supports a ban on abortions, with certain exceptions. | Mr Trump supports a ban on abortions, with certain exceptions. |
| Abortion has been legal in the United States since 1973 after a landmark Supreme Court ruling. | Abortion has been legal in the United States since 1973 after a landmark Supreme Court ruling. |
| Only the high court has the power to overturn Roe v Wade and make abortion illegal. | |
| Once a Democrat, Mr Trump has been criticised for supporting abortion rights in the past. | Once a Democrat, Mr Trump has been criticised for supporting abortion rights in the past. |
| Some anti-abortion groups criticised Mr Trump's comments. | |
| "Mr Trump's comment today is completely out of touch with the pro-life movement and even more with women who have chosen such a sad thing as abortion," said Jeanne Mancini, President of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund. | |
| "No pro-lifer would ever want to punish a woman who has chosen abortion." | |
| Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton has been an outspoken critic of Mr Trump's stance on women's issues. | Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton has been an outspoken critic of Mr Trump's stance on women's issues. |
| "Just when you thought it couldn't get worse. Horrific and telling," said Mrs Clinton after his latest comments. | "Just when you thought it couldn't get worse. Horrific and telling," said Mrs Clinton after his latest comments. |
| Republican leaders have expressed concern about Mr Trump's prospects in the general election because polls show that the New York businessman is extremely unpopular with female voters. | |
| Mr Trump has come under fire for disparaging women including former presidential candidate Carly Fiorina and TV presenter Megyn Kelly. | |
| "If Trump's words about women - calling us 'disgusting', 'slobs' and 'fat pigs' - didn't scare us, this should," said Kate Black of Emily's List, a group committed to electing female Democrats who support abortion rights. | |
| His campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, was arrested on Tuesday, accused of a minor assault on a female reporter. Mr Trump has vehemently defended Mr Lewandowski. | |
| More on the Trump campaign | |
| The 40-year hurt - how Bruce Springsteen articulated the forces that underpin the rise of Trump | |
| Trumpisms - 22 things that Trump believes | |
| A civil war - Lifelong Republicans turned off by Trump | |
| Anti-abortion activists traditionally have avoided placing blame on women who undergo abortions, but have focused on those who perform the procedure. | Anti-abortion activists traditionally have avoided placing blame on women who undergo abortions, but have focused on those who perform the procedure. |
| In recent years, conservatives have sought to tighten restrictions on abortion clinics and doctors rather than seek an outright ban. | In recent years, conservatives have sought to tighten restrictions on abortion clinics and doctors rather than seek an outright ban. |
| Abortion rights advocates say these measures are meant to restrict women's access to abortion. | |
| The new laws are particularly pervasive in conservative southern states. |