(The Center Square) – An Illinois-based nonprofit leader says the U.S. Department of Justice abused government power against pro-life Americans under former President Joe Biden.
Peter Breen, executive vice president and head of litigation of the Chicago-based Thomas More Society, addressed a U.S. House Judiciary subcommittee last week.
“The Biden DOJ engaged in a systematic campaign to abuse the power of the federal government against pro-life advocates, while that same DOJ ignored hundreds of acts of vandalism and violence against pro-life churches, pregnancy help centers and other advocates,” Breen said.
Breen said two peaceful pro-life advocates, Paul Vaughn and Mark Houck, were arrested by heavily-armed FBI agents in front of their wives and young children. The matter has not been resolved just because Biden is out of the White House, he said.
“There are long statutes of limitations on these federal laws, and so folks remain in fear that some future administration will twist the law and come after them,” Breen said.
Breen urged Congress to repeal the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act of 1994, which bans certain activities outside of “reproductive health” clinics and places of worship, or to at least reduce the scope of the measure.
“Get rid of this conspiracy against rights statute application, because its 10-year felony provisions cannot be applied to pro-life advocates at all,” Breen said.
U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, said DOJ weaponization is actually happening under the current Trump administration. Crockett pointed to the current DOJ’s efforts to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
“The Department of Justice wants Mayor Adams to give fealty to Trump and also use him to execute Trump’s immigration policy in New York City,” Crockett said.
Crockett quoted previous justice-related remarks by Republicans and called the Trump administration’s move a “quid pro quo” that should warrant House investigation of the current DOJ.
