Chip Roy leads House Republicans in effort to repeal law used by Biden administration to prosecute pro-lifers
More than 20 House Republicans are backing a bill that would repeal the law used by former President Biden’s administration to prosecute dozens of pro-life activists. The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances, or FACE Act, has been a contentious issue for Republicans who argue that it has been selectively enforced to target pro-life protesters outside of abortion clinics.
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, is leading the effort to repeal the FACE Act, citing data obtained from the Justice Department that shows 97% of prosecutions under the law in the last 20 years were against abortion opponents. Roy stated, “Americans just spent the last four years being targeted by a weaponized justice system. The FACE Act was one of the primary weapons of abuse – being used to politically target, arrest, and jail pro-life Americans for speaking out and standing up for life.”
The FACE Act, passed in 1994, makes it a federal crime to use threats of force, obstruction, or inflict property damage intended to interfere with reproductive health care services. However, Republicans argue that the law has been used disproportionately against pro-life activists, while attacks on pro-life organizations and pregnancy resource centers have gone largely unpunished.
The Biden administration’s aggressive prosecution of pro-life activists has sparked outrage among conservatives, with calls for President Trump to pardon at least 21 individuals convicted under the FACE Act. Pro-life activists like Mark Houck, who was acquitted after a high-profile trial, have been vocal in their criticism of the Biden DOJ’s handling of the cases.
Conservative groups have petitioned President Trump to pardon those convicted under the FACE Act, with some receiving prison sentences ranging from 10 months to nearly five years for their involvement in pro-life protests. The prosecutions have been labeled as unfair and politically biased by critics.
Rep. Roy’s efforts to repeal the FACE Act have garnered support from organizations like CatholicVote and Students for Life Action, who argue that the law is being used to target peaceful pro-life protesters while ignoring violent pro-abortion activists. They are calling on Congress to act swiftly to repeal the law and prevent future administrations from weaponizing it against pro-life activists.
President Trump has indicated that he would consider pardoning those convicted under the FACE Act, signaling a potential shift in the administration’s approach to prosecuting pro-life protesters. Roy expressed hope that Congress and the administration would work together to advance his bill and provide relief to those he believes were unfairly targeted.
In conclusion, the push to repeal the FACE Act is gaining momentum among House Republicans, who believe that the law has been weaponized to target pro-life activists unfairly. Calls for pardons and a repeal of the law have intensified, with hopes that President Trump will take action to address the concerns raised by pro-life advocates.
