GOP blames politics for no consequences for pro-abortion extremists.

Republicans Accuse DOJ of Unequal Enforcement of Law Against Pro-Life Groups

Pro-life organizations across the country are facing increasing attacks, and Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee are accusing the Department of Justice (DOJ) of unfairly enforcing the law to the detriment of these groups. At a May 16 committee hearing, Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) stated that “politics is driving the agenda in far too many agencies in our government, and today, it’s not limited to presidential campaigns.” He added that “today, they come after American citizens.”

A Traumatized Witness

Mark Houck, a Catholic pro-life advocate, was one of several witnesses invited to testify before the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government regarding the DOJ’s enforcement of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. This law prohibits the use or threat of force to intimidate or obstruct those seeking to obtain or provide “reproductive health services.” Houck was involved in an altercation with a clinic escort at a Philadelphia Planned Parenthood clinic in October 2021. While local law enforcement declined to pursue charges in the case, the FBI arrested Houck in front of his wife and children during an early morning raid on his home in September 2022.

“My children were down-range of many guns, and they screamed through the whole process. … They were traumatized,” Houck recounted at the hearing.

Selective Enforcement

Despite the DOJ’s zealous enforcement of the FACE Act in Houck’s case, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), the subcommittee chairman, noted that the Biden administration has rarely enforced the law in defense of pro-life pregnancy centers and churches, which are also protected under the statute. Johnson stated that “the Justice Department to date has brought only four indictments against pro-abortion activists, all of which were related to a single Jane’s Revenge attack in Florida.” He added that those four indictments were “not even a drop in the bucket” considering the hundreds of attacks on pro-life organizations and churches that have occurred since the FACE Act was passed in 1994.

Conclusion

The rise in attacks on pro-life organizations is a concerning trend, and the unequal enforcement of the law by the DOJ is only exacerbating the issue. It is crucial that the government protects the rights of all citizens, regardless of their beliefs, and ensures that the law is applied fairly and justly.

• Key Takeaways:
• Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee are accusing the DOJ of unfairly enforcing the law against pro-life groups.
• Mark Houck, a Catholic pro-life advocate, was arrested by the FBI in front of his family during an early morning raid on his home.
• The DOJ has rarely enforced the FACE Act in defense of pro-life pregnancy centers and churches.
• The unequal enforcement of the law is exacerbating the rise in attacks on pro-life organizations.