Political Bias Targeted Pro-Life Activists, DOJ Reveals
A newly released report from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Weaponization Working Group is drawing national attention, alleging that enforcement of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act under the Biden administration was politically biased and inconsistently applied.
The report, based on a review of more than 700,000 internal records, details what officials describe as a pattern of selective prosecution, coordination with outside advocacy groups, and violations of constitutional protections. It also outlines steps the current Justice Department says it is taking to restore public trust.
“This Department will not tolerate a two-tiered system of justice,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “No Department should conduct selective prosecution based on beliefs. The weaponization that happened under the Biden Administration will not happen again, as we restore integrity to our prosecutorial system.”
Originally passed in 1994, the FACE Act was designed to protect access to abortion clinics, pregnancy centers, and houses of worship by prohibiting threats, obstruction, and violence. However, the DOJ report argues that its enforcement in recent years strayed from that balanced intent.
According to the findings, federal prosecutors “closely collaborated with pro-abortion groups to track pro-life activists’ First Amendment activity,” with organizations such as the National Abortion Federation, Planned Parenthood, and the Feminist Majority Foundation playing a key role in identifying targets for investigation.
The report states that these groups “compiled evidence and dossiers that ultimately gave rise to search warrants and charges,” and that DOJ officials at times requested information about pro-life individuals’ travel and constitutionally protected advocacy.
In addition to concerns about outside coordination, the report details alleged prosecutorial misconduct, including withholding evidence from defense attorneys, attempting to exclude jurors based on religious beliefs, and authorizing aggressive arrest tactics rather than allowing voluntary surrender.
“The behavior unearthed in this report is shameful,” said Assistant Attorney General Daniel Burrows of the Office of Legal Policy. “Lawyers who should have known better withheld evidence, worked to keep committed religious people off juries, and generally allowed the Department of Justice to be used as the enforcement arm of pro-abortion special interests.”
The report also highlights disparities in sentencing. Prosecutors sought an average of 26.8 months for pro-life defendants compared to 12.3 months for pro-abortion defendants, according to the findings.
Another section raises ethical concerns, alleging that a lead prosecutor involved in FACE Act cases served as a reference on a private grant application for the National Abortion Federation while the organization had matters before the department, with “no record of ethics approval.”
Beyond diagnosing past actions, the report emphasizes corrective measures already taken by the current administration.
Among them:
- – Full presidential pardons issued on January 23, 2025, for “many of the pro-life Christians unfairly targeted”
- – Dismissal with prejudice of multiple civil cases against pro-life activists
- – Settlements in certain civil matters and personnel actions within the department
- – A new directive limiting FACE Act prosecutions to “extraordinary circumstances” or cases involving significant aggravating factors
The DOJ also approved a limited waiver of privileged materials, allowing the public to review more than 800 pages of supporting exhibits tied to the investigation.
The report concludes by reaffirming the department’s commitment to equal enforcement of the law.
“DOJ is committed to prosecuting crime in a manner that is consistent with its mission to uphold the rule of law, to keep our country safe, and to protect civil rights,” the statement reads, adding that any additional claims will be reviewed “without fear or favor.”
