Texas district attorney to drop murder charge in "self-induced abortion"

Driving the news: Gocha Allen Ramirez, district attorney for Duval, Jim Hogg and Starr counties, said his office will file to dismiss the murder charge against Herrera on Monday.

• "In reviewing applicable Texas law, it is clear that Ms. Herrera cannot and should not be prosecuted for the allegation against her," Ramirez said.
• He added: "The issues surrounding this matter are clearly contentious, however, based on Texas law and the facts presented, it is not a criminal matter."

The big picture: Texas has the most restrictive abortion ban in the U.S. The law, Senate Bill 8 (S.B. 8), took effect last September.

• Surrounding states have seen a nearly 800% rise in abortion patients from Texas from Sept. 1 to Dec. 31, 2021, Axios' Oriana Gonzalez writes.