Last year, activist Mark Houck attacked an escort from a Planned Parenthood clinic. On Friday, September 23, the noted pro-life author and sidewalk counselor was jailed in front of his children after the Justice Department carried out a SWAT raid on his rural Pennsylvania home. According to reports, federal officials in Pennsylvania have filed charges against anti-abortion protester Mark Houck, who is suspected of twice pushing a 72-year-old clinic escort. He is reported to have violated the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrance (FACE) Act, which was enacted 30 years ago. The use of force for the purpose of hurting, intimidating or disrupting the provision of reproductive health care is prohibited under this Act.
I reported Mark Houck, the father of seven and pro-life activist who had his home raided by two dozen FBI crooks on behalf of Merrick Garland’s DOJ last week.
This actually went to a grand jury. Our legal system is irrevocably broken: pic.twitter.com/yOI8VsWnoI
β Julie Kelly πΊπΈ (@julie_kelly2) September 26, 2022
Mark Houck was caught in front of his children during a SWAT team raid on his home.
According to reports, Houck assaulted a 72-year-old man identified in the indictment as “BL” on Oct. 13, 2021, outside the Planned Parenthood Elizabeth Black Health Center in Philadelphia. According to a Justice Department news report, BL was trying to escort two patients out of the clinic when the defendant forcibly pushed him to the ground. In a second case, Houck was charged with “verbal” harassing BL outside the institution before forcibly pushing him down and inflicting injuries that required medical attention.
According to US attorney Jacqueline C. Romero:
“Adult assault is always a serious offense, and the FACE Act makes it a federal crime if the victim is targeted because of their ties to a reproductive health care facility.” Our office and the Department of Justice are committed to prosecuting criminal offenses that endanger the safety and rights of all people.β
Jacqueline Maguire, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division, also commented on the incident, saying:
βTo put it simply, violence is never the solution.β Physical assault in violation of the FACE Act is a serious offense for which the FBI will strive to hold criminals accountable.β
According to Mark Houck’s wife, Ryan-Marie, their home was searched early Friday morning by 25 to 30 armed FBI agents. The officers allegedly hammered on the door and yelled at the family to open it.
She begged the police and said:
“Please, I’ll open the door, but please, my kids are home.” “I have seven babies at home.”
She went on to say that the officers pointed their guns at them while yelling at the children to go upstairs.
She revealed:
“All the kids were screaming.” It was all very frightening and terrible.β
When Houck’s wife questioned FBI agents about their legal reasons for her husband’s arrest, they reportedly said, “They would take him whether they had a warrant or not.” Ryan-Marie Houck claimed she got the first page of the arrest warrant after accusing authorities of Mark’s kidnapping. The paper stated that Mark had been accused of violating the FACE Act. If found guilty, Mark Houck faces up to 11 years in prison, three years of supervised release and fines up to $350,000.
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