Former FDA lawyer resigns after Hawley's social media attack

A former FDA lawyer, Hillary Perkins, has quit her position after being criticized by Senator Josh Hawley for her involvement with an abortion pill case. Perkins, who worked under both Presidents Trump and Biden, is responding strongly to Hawley's remarks. Hawley accused Perkins on social media of being a "Biden abortion lawyer," which she denies. During an appearance on CNN, she expressed her shock at this label, describing herself instead as a conservative who is pro-life. Perkins noted that she defended the policies of the Justice Department, even when she personally disagreed with them. The discussion took a turn when CNN host Jake Tapper pointed out that Hawley's wife had argued against the legality of the abortion pill, Mifepristone, in court. Tapper suggested that Hawley should have disclosed this information when making his accusations. Perkins confirmed that the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Mifepristone's legality. Perkins criticized the trend of attacking civil servants for their professional duties. She believes they should be appreciated for their work. She also raised concerns about how senators express their opinions on social media instead of through more formal channels. Perkins stated that she would be open to meeting with Hawley to clarify their common views but noted that he had refused to do so. She insisted that he should be supportive of her role in the FDA.