Pro-life activist Mark Houck acquitted on federal assault charges

January 31, 2023

Pro-lifers got a huge win this week despite the Biden administration's efforts to intimidate any sort of anti-abortion movement or effort.

"Pro-life activist and Catholic father of seven Mark Houck was found not guilty on Monday on federal assault charges brought by President Joe Biden’s Department of Justice (DOJ)," reported Breitbart News, citing Catholic News Agency.

The DOJ pressed charges against Houck, who physically pushed a Planned Parenthood escort twice, even though local authorities declined to press charges.

Houck admitted he pushed the escort, 73-year-old Bruce Love, because the man was harassing his 12-year-old son verbally as he was counseling outside the abortion clinic.

"The DOJ sent a team of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents to his home of September 23, 2022, allegedly arresting him at gunpoint in front of his wife and children. The DOJ accused Houck of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act), a 1993 law created to prosecute crimes at pro-life pregnancy centers that has 'been used almost exclusively against pro-life activists,' CNA’s Joe Bukuras detailed. The FACE Act outlaws 'violent, threatening, damaging, and obstructive conduct intended to injure, intimidate, or interfere with the right to seek, obtain, or provide reproductive health services,'" reports Breitbart.

Peter Breen, Thomas More Society executive vice president and head of litigation, was excited about the victory and condemned the Biden administration for their efforts to "intimidate pro-life people."

"We are, of course, thrilled with the outcome. Mark and his family are now free of the cloud that the Biden administration threw upon them. We took on Goliath — the full might of the United States government — and won," said Breen. "The jury saw through and rejected the prosecution’s discriminatory case, which was harassment from day one. This is a win for Mark and the entire pro-life movement. The Biden Department of Justice’s intimidation against pro-life people and people of faith has been put in its place."

Source: Breitbart