Biden DOJ ‘weaponized’ federal law to prosecute pro-lifers — and give them longer prison sentences
The Department of Justice under former President Joe Biden has come under fire for its handling of cases involving pro-life defendants. A recent internal review revealed that the DOJ withheld evidence, approved aggressive arrest tactics, and imposed longer prison sentences on pro-life activists compared to pro-abortion ones.
The review, which examined over 700,000 records related to prosecutions under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, found evidence of biased enforcement and collaboration with pro-abortion groups. The DOJ was accused of working closely with organizations like Planned Parenthood, Feminist Majority Foundation, and the National Abortion Federation’s Security Team to target and monitor pro-life activists before initiating investigations and filing charges.
Former Attorney General Merrick Garland established a national task force to pursue cases against pro-lifers following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in June 2022. The task force, led by civil division trial attorney Sanjay Patel, was accused of unfairly targeting pro-life defendants and using questionable tactics to secure convictions.
One case highlighted in the review involved Christian jurors being excluded from a trial involving a pro-life defendant, while another case saw prosecutors referring to Christian pro-lifers as “culty.” The DOJ was also found to seek higher prison sentences for pro-life defendants charged with non-violent FACE Act violations compared to pro-abortion defendants.
In one high-profile case, pro-life activist Mark Houck was arrested by 16 armed FBI agents at his home in rural Pennsylvania and charged with FACE Act-related counts. Despite the aggressive tactics used by the DOJ, Houck was acquitted by a federal jury in January 2023 and later reached a settlement with the Biden administration.
The review also revealed that President Trump pardoned 23 pro-lifers convicted of FACE Act violations under the prior administration, criticizing the selective prosecution based on beliefs. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche condemned the two-tiered system of justice and vowed to restore integrity to the prosecutorial system.
As a result of the review, the DOJ may refer prosecutors or employees facing internal misconduct probes for criminal prosecution or other disciplinary actions. Sanjay Patel was fired on Monday, along with three other federal prosecutors involved in FACE Act cases under Garland.
In response to the findings, Office of Legal Policy Assistant Attorney General Daniel Burrows called the behavior uncovered in the report “shameful” and criticized the DOJ for allowing itself to be used as the enforcement arm of pro-abortion special interests. The Biden administration has pledged to prevent such abuses from happening again and ensure fair treatment of all defendants in future prosecutions.
