During his interview yesterday with ABC News’s Jonathan Karl, Republican VP nominee J.D. Vance raised the topic of a Minnesota law—signed by Democrat VP nominee Tim Walz—which would “take my children away from me if I have different world views” than Democrats. Karl denied that this was the case, describing Vance’s portrayal of the law as “crazy.”

However, a review of HF 146 reveals that the law gives Minnesota courts “temporary emergency jurisdiction” in cases where a child has been brought to the state to receive “gender-affirming care.” This means that an adult bringing a child to the state to receive transgender drugs or surgeries could petition the court in Minnesota, rather than in the child’s home state, for custody of the child and potentially be granted custody.

The law also prohibits state agencies from cooperating with a custody order from another state if the order would remove the child from a parent or guardian allowing him or her to receive transgender drugs or surgeries. This could in practice prevent a child from being reunited with his or her parents if those parents oppose him or her receiving these drugs and/or surgeries.

Contrary to Karl’s false claim, these provisions of the law make it possible for Minnesota officials to strip custody of children from parents who disagree with allowing them to undergo transgender procedures, as legal experts have confirmed. The passage of this law last year prompted American Principles Project (APP) to issue a travel advisory for families considering visiting the state.

In response, APP President Terry Schilling released the following statement denouncing ABC News’s role in spreading misinformation about the law:

“For years, public confidence in the legacy media has been declining, and it’s no secret why. Press outlets have become increasingly blatant in their propagandizing for Democrats, efforts which have come to include outright lying on behalf of candidates like Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. This Sunday’s whopper by ABC News’s Jonathan Karl is just the latest example.

“If the legacy media desire to win back the trust of Americans, they should apologize for their past propagation of misinformation as in this episode and instead commit themselves to covering the news in a non-partisan manner. Otherwise, all they will accomplish in their continued attempts to gaslight the public will be the complete destruction of their remaining credibility.”

To schedule an engagement with American Principles Project, contact Paul Dupont at (o) 202-503-2010 or paul@americanprinciplesproject.org.