Duval Times

U.S. Congressman John H. Rutherford (FL-05) has issued a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, raising concerns over the Department of Justice's (DOJ) enforcement of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. The congressman alleges that the DOJ has not adequately responded to attacks on places of worship and pregnancy centers.

The letter, which was also signed by eight other members of Congress, has garnered support from Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.

“The Justice Department has failed to prosecute a single act of violence against places of religious worship under the FACT Act,” stated Rutherford. “In fact, only five individuals have been prosecuted under the FACE Act for attacking pro-life pregnancy centers, while the Justice Department actively prosecutes numerous protests outside of abortion clinics."

Rutherford referenced recent incidents such as a pro-Palestinian protest disrupting an Easter vigil mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City and over 150 attacks on churches and pregnancy resource centers nationwide since the Dobbs decision.

"President Biden’s Department of Justice is using the FACE Act to target and prosecute peaceful pro-life protesters and people of faith, while failing to investigate the numerous attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers and churches across America since the leak of the Dobbs decision," said Hon. Marilyn Musgrave, Vice President of Government Affairs at SBA Pro-Life America.

Musgrave thanked Congressman Rutherford for his leadership in calling out what she sees as weaponization of the FACE Act by the DOJ and demanding accountability for perceived abuses against pro-life Americans and institutions.

The letter requests responses within 30 days to several questions regarding federal prosecutions pursued for violations of the FACE Act, investigations into specific incidents involving interference with religious worship, criteria used by DOJ when deciding to pursue charges under FACE Act, and collaboration between DOJ and state or local law enforcement in identifying FACE Act violations.