{"id":2163374,"date":"2024-01-30T18:17:01","date_gmt":"2024-01-30T23:17:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dad-of-11-convicted-for-praying-at-abortion-facility-alongside-5-other-pro-lifers-targeted-by-doj\/"},"modified":"2024-01-30T18:22:23","modified_gmt":"2024-01-30T23:22:23","slug":"dad-of-11-convicted-for-praying-at-abortion-facility-alongside-5-other-pro-lifers-targeted-by-doj","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dad-of-11-convicted-for-praying-at-abortion-facility-alongside-5-other-pro-lifers-targeted-by-doj\/","title":{"rendered":"Father of 11 found guilty for praying at abortion clinic with 5 other pro-life activists, targeted by DOJ"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">36<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdad-of-11-convicted-for-praying-at-abortion-facility-alongside-5-other-pro-lifers-targeted-by-doj%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2163374&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Pro-Life Father Found Guilty for Praying and\u2062 Singing Hymns at Abortion Facility<\/h2>\n<p>A\u2064 \u201cpeaceful\u201d pro-life\u200b father of 11 who was\u200b prosecuted\u200c by President Joe Biden\u2019s Department of Justice for praying and \u2064singing hymns in \u200dthe hallway of a Tennessee abortion \u2062facility was found guilty on Tuesday by a federal jury in Nashville.<\/p>\n<p>Paul Vaughn is one of five pro-lifers who was charged with felonies for allegedly violating\u200b the unconstitutional\u2062 Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and engaging in\u200b a \u201cconspiracy against rights.\u201d Following the verdict,\u2064 he joined his fellow\u200c defendants in singing hymns outside of the \u200bFred D. Thompson federal courthouse.<\/p>\n<p>Vaughn\u2019s attorney at\u200b the Thomas More Society signaled \u2062they would appeal the case in the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. If that \u2064appeal fails, Vaughn could face up to 11 years in prison at his sentencing hearing\u200d on July 2 and up to $260,000 in fines.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is a frustrating setback, for\u200b Paul, for his family, and for the extended pro-life \u2063community, which has rallied support for Paul from the day of his arrest in front of his wife and children by heavily armed FBI agents, on through the trial,\u201d Thomas More Society Senior Counsel Steve\u2063 Crampton said in a statement, noting\u200d that the Biden administration\u2019s aim from the beginning of\u2063 this case\u200d was to\u200d \u201cpunish \u200bPaul and other pro-life people and people of faith.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Crampton warned the DOJ\u2019s \u201cpattern of arresting and prosecuting peaceful <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/americans-remember-the-48th-annual-march-for-life\/\" title=\"Americans remember the 48th annual March for Life\">pro-life advocates<\/a> is disturbing,\u201d and indicated that its case hinged on the unfair characterization of Vaughn \u2064as an aggressor instead of a \u2062peaceful protester.<\/p>\n<p>Footage of the so-called crime shows a group of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/manchin-under-pressure-to-tank-biden-health-care-nominee\/\" title=\"Manchin Under Pressure to Tank Biden Health Care Nominee\">pro-life activists<\/a>\u200d peacefully singing, reading scripture, \u200cand praying in the hallway outside of a Mt. Juliet,\u2064 Tennessee abortion facility in March 2021.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<blockquote data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<div lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<p>BREAKING: Six pro-life activists were just found guilty in federal court after being prosecuted by \u2064Biden&#8217;s DOJ under the FACE Act for protesting outside a\u200c Nashville abortion \u200bclinic.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s a \u200bsnippet of the\u200c protest, which occurred on March 5, 2021.<\/p>\n<p>For \u200cthe crime of praying \u200dand\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/UPzZvtZebM\">pic.twitter.com\/UPzZvtZebM<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>        \u2014 Greg Price (@greg_price11) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/greg_price11\/status\/1752428280756482441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 30, 2024<\/a>\n    <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Vaughn was\u2063 never arrested during the protest.\u2063 Witness testimony from a police\u200d negotiator even \u200bsuggested the defendant was \u201chelpful, collaborative, and peaceful,\u201d according to the lawyers presenting his\u200d case.<\/p>\n<p>It wasn\u2019t until Oct. 5, 2022, that the DOJ unsealed charges accusing Vaughn and his fellow protesters of using \u201cforce and physical obstruction to injure, intimidate and interfere with employees \u200dof the clinic and a patient who was seeking \u2064reproductive\u200d health services.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure>\n<blockquote data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Video of the FBI&#8217;s arrest of Paul Vaughn \u2064of Centerville, Tennessee. DOJ charged him with \u2064\u201cconspiracy against rights secured by the FACE \u2063Act, and committing \u2063FACE Act violations&#8221; for blocking the entrance \u200bto an abortion clinic. Paul tells me\u200d the \u200dfootage was taken\u200b by his wife. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/KSDvLRSrlF\">pic.twitter.com\/KSDvLRSrlF<\/a><\/p>\n<p>        \u2014 Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MaryMargOlohan\/status\/1578464777147326464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 7, 2022<\/a>\n    <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The defense repeatedly noted that Vaughn\u2019s Mt. Juliet protest did not result in injury or property damage, but that did not stop Biden\u2019s DOJ from twisting evidence to deceptively \u2063portray him\u200b in a bad light.<\/p>\n<p>DOJ attorneys\u2063 claimed abortion facility employees were \u200d\u201ctrapped inside the building during the incident,\u201d even though video evidence \u200cof the event exists\u200c that the defense says \u201cshowed traffic clearly passing down the hallway to and from the abortion venue.\u201d The DOJ \u200dalso turned one \u2063of the protesters who was initially arrested against Vaughn \u2063and \u200bused her testimony \u2064as further proof that he helped\u2063 hamper the abortion facility\u2019s operations.<\/p>\n<p>Eight in 10 Americans do not have a \u201cgreat deal of confidence\u201d \u2064in the Biden DOJ to do its job well and fairly.\u200c Maybe that\u2019s because perfectly peaceful protesters face prison simply \u200dbecause they hold different political views than the administration while the White House\u2019s violent allies who wreak havoc on people and property alike walk free.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>Jordan Boyd is a staff writer at The\u2062 Federalist and co-producer of The Federalist Radio Hour. Her work has\u200b also been featured in \u200dThe Daily Wire, Fox News, and RealClearPolitics.\u200b Jordan graduated from Baylor University where she majored in political science and minored in journalism. Follow her \u2062on Twitter @jordanboydtx.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How does the decision by the Thomas More Society to appeal Paul Vaughn&#8217;s\u200c case demonstrate \u200cthe importance of\u200d defending the rights of pro-life individuals and \u2064protecting their constitutional freedoms<\/h2>\n<p><span> <\/p>\n<blockquote data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<div lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<p>Pro-life father found guilty \u2064for praying and singing hymns at \u200babortion facility. Paul Vaughn, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-had-better-pass-federal-pro-life-laws-if-they-ever-want-to-be-elected-again\/\" title=\"Republicans Had Better Pass Federal Pro-Life Laws If They Ever Want To Be Elected Again\">peaceful pro-life activist<\/a> and father of 11, has been prosecuted by President Joe Biden\u2019s Department of\u200c Justice for his actions outside a Tennessee abortion facility. He has been found guilty by a federal jury in Nashville.<\/p>\n<p>Vaughn is one\u2063 of five pro-lifers who faced felony\u200d charges for allegedly violating the unconstitutional Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and engaging in a \u201cconspiracy\u2064 against rights.\u201d Despite \u2062the verdict, Vaughn and his fellow defendants sang hymns outside the Fred D. Thompson federal\u200d courthouse.<\/p>\n<p>His attorney at the Thomas More Society has\u200c announced plans to appeal the\u200c case in the 6th Circuit \u200cU.S. Court of Appeals. Vaughn could face up to 11 years in prison and $260,000 in fines if the appeal fails.<\/p>\n<p>Steve Crampton, Senior Counsel at the Thomas More Society, expressed disappointment and frustration\u200d over the verdict. He highlighted the Biden administration\u2019s intention to punish pro-life individuals and people of faith, emphasizing the troubling pattern of arresting and prosecuting peaceful pro-life advocates.<\/p>\n<p>Video evidence \u2063of the alleged \u200bcrime shows Vaughn and other pro-life activists engaging in peaceful activities such as singing, reading\u200d scripture, and praying outside the Tennessee abortion facility.<\/p>\n<p>Contrary to the DOJ&#8217;s accusations, Vaughn was never arrested during the protest. Witness testimonies even\u2062 indicated that he was helpful and peaceful. The charges were unsealed months after\u200c the protest, accusing Vaughn and other protesters of using force and physical obstruction to interfere \u200cwith employees of the clinic and a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fate-of-dc-pro-life-rescuers-now-before-federal-jury\/\" title=\"DC Pro-Life 'Rescuers' Await Verdict from Federal Jury\">patient seeking reproductive health services<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n<p>This case raises concerns about the restriction of free \u200cspeech and peaceful \u2063protest on the grounds of abortion facilities. The allegations made\u2063 against Vaughn and his fellow pro-life activists suggest an unfair characterization of their intentions and actions. Singing hymns and praying are fundamental exercises of religious\u200d freedom, and criminalizing such peaceful forms of protest goes against the principles enshrined in the \u200cFirst Amendment.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, the prosecution of individuals like Paul Vaughn is indicative of a broader \u200btrend in the Biden administration&#8217;s approach to pro-life advocates and people of faith. Targeting individuals for their\u2063 beliefs and\u200b seeking to impose harsh penalties undermines the principles of tolerance, diversity, and respect for\u2062 differing\u200b viewpoints that are crucial for a democratic society.<\/p>\n<p>The Thomas \u200cMore Society&#8217;s decision to appeal the case demonstrates a commitment to defending the \u200drights of pro-life individuals and protecting their constitutional freedoms. \u200cIt is essential that the courts recognize the importance of peaceful \u200cprotest \u200cand \u2063religious expression, and safeguard these rights for\u200c all citizens.<\/p>\n<p>Regardless of one&#8217;s \u2062stance on abortion, it is crucial to protect the rights of individuals to \u200dpeacefully express their beliefs and engage in\u2063 lawful protest. The criminalization of peaceful pro-life activism sends a chilling message\u2064 to those who seek\u200c to exercise their fundamental rights. Upholding the principles of free speech, religious freedom, and peaceful protest is paramount for \u200da just and inclusive society.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A pro-life father of 11, prosecuted by President Biden&#8217;s DOJ for praying and singing hymns at a Tennessee abortion facility, was found guilty by a federal jury. Paul Vaughn, among five charged, was deemed guilty for his peaceful actions. Image Credit: Joe Barnas\/Thomas More Society<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":490,"featured_media":2163375,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/post-trial-hymn-singing-paul-2-1-30-24-Vaughn-with-book-scaled-e1706651352161.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2163374","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/post-trial-hymn-singing-paul-2-1-30-24-Vaughn-with-book-scaled-e1706651352161.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2163374","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/490"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2163374"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2163374\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2163375"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2163374"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2163374"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2163374"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}