Biden DOJ Charges Another Pro-Life Activist
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged another pro-life activist, the latest Biden administration case against a person who allegedly sought to block access to an abortion clinic.
Herb Geraghty, of Pennsylvania, was charged with violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE) Act and conspiring to deprive civil rights, the same charges leveled against activists who gathered at clinics in Washington and Tennessee.
Geraghty was named in a superseding indictment (pdf) against the group that allegedly sought to block access to the Washington Surgi-Center, an abortion clinic in Washington, in October 2020.
Geraghty is accused of communicating with Lauren Handy, previously charged, to plan a blockade of the facility, according to the DOJ. Handy used money from a donation to pay for an Airbnb for herself and Geraghty, charging documents state.
The group entered the clinic and blocked its entrance with their bodies and items like chains. Jonathan Darnel, another defendant, allegedly livestreamed the situation and stated, “We have people intervening physically with their bodies to prevent women from entering the clinic to murder their children.”
All 10 defendants were charged with violating the FACE Act, which prohibits obstructing people from obtaining or providing abortions. They were also charged with civil rights conspiracy for allegedly conspiring to restrict people’s constitutional rights. Each faces up to 11 years in prison if convicted.
Geraghty Responds
Geraghty took to social media on Oct. 17 to respond to the charges.
He said that the charges against himself and others are being motivated by politics.
“It is clear that the Biden administration intends to use the DOJ as a weapon against political dissidents,” he said.
Eleven people were charged in October for blocking access to a clinic in Tennessee in 2021. Some of the defendants there also said they feel they’re being unfairly targeted.
Geraghty thanked supporters but asked people to “never lose sight of the fact that no matter what the state does to me or the other defendants—it will never compare to what they allow abortionists to do to children.
“The unborn babies still being killed every day in this country, despite the Dobbs decision, are the real victims. These children do not even get a trial before they are put to death. As you pray and demand justice for us, do NOT stop working for justice for them,” he added.
In its recent decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v Casey.
Supporters are raising funds for Geraghty on GiveSendGo.
Rare Prosecutions
The FACE Act has been on the books since 1994, but has rarely been used to prosecute pro-life activists, The Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising, whose director of activism was among those who took part in the action in 2020, issued a statement after Geraghty’s arrest.
“Yet in 2022 alone, under the Biden/Garland DOJ, there have been at least 22 peaceful pro-life activists indicted under the act,” the group said.
Attorney General Merrick Garland heads the DOJ after being
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