Lawmakers demand explanation about over-the-top FBI arrest of Mark Houck

10/07/2022 / By Mary Villareal

Members of Congress are demanding that the Department of Justice (DOJ) explain its over-the-top arrest of Mark Houck. The Catholic pro-life leader was arrested by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in front of his wife and children at his home in Pennsylvania.

Houck was charged with two counts of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which bans “violent, threatening, damaging and obstructive conduct intended to injure, intimidate or interfere with the right to seek, obtain or provide reproductive health services.” He entered a not guilty plea during his arraignment in Philadelphia.

Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) described the FBI’s arrest and treatment of Houck as “chilling” in a press release. His letter sought an explanation for the excessive level of force involved in Houck’s arrest, and why federal law enforcement dipped its hands in a matter involving only the state and local government.

“The American people deserve answers,” he wrote. “Instead of allowing for a local resolution of the dispute, the FBI nationalized the matter by using excessive force – with an early morning raid at gunpoint in front of young children.”

Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), meanwhile, condemned U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland for overseeing “an increasingly politicized FBI” that seems to be “hell-bent” on making examples of average American citizens whose politics do not align with that of the Biden administration.

While the Texas congressman reiterated that little is known about Houck’s case, it is very well known that his home was raided by about 25 to 30 FBI agents whose guns were drawn on a father of seven.

According to the DOJ, Houck allegedly shoved a man in front of a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic on Oct. 13, 2021. The pro-life activist, however, insisted that he was only defending his 12-year-old son from the man’s encroachment.

The Philadelphia Police Department confirmed the incident, but said no charges were filed and that Houck was not arrested. The Philadelphia district attorney also declined to press charges. However, the case caught the DOJ’s attention in May 2022 – with the department informing Houck that he was being investigated by a grand jury for violating the FACE Act.

Attorneys put in their two cents on Houck’s arrest by the FBI

Attorney Liz Yore weighed in on the FBI’s arrest of Houck during the Sept. 30 episode of “Faith and Reason” on LifeSiteNews. She remarked that the raid served as “payback” for the Supreme Court’s overturn of Roe v. Wade. Given that Houck was a pro-life counselor and devout Catholic, the FBI’s raid sought to intimidate and harass the entire pro-life community.

“In my mind, I cannot believe that there wasn’t a number of young fathers among those FBI agents who should be ashamed at what they did to those children. Unnecessarily traumatizing them, a trauma that they’re going to carry with them for the rest of their lives into adulthood,” Yore said. (Related: Journalist calls FBI raid on pro-life activist ‘act of terrorism’ as politicized Justice Dept. unleashed to target conservatives.)

Thomas More Society (TMS) senior counsel Peter Breen, who represents Houck, condemned the arrest. He described it as an “abuse of power” from the Biden administration that sought to intimidate pro-life Americans.

“This was not a federal crime,” he said. “We have controlling case law on that, strong defenses, but instead, they’ve taken an innocent man and made an example out of him, presumably to send a message to pro-life people and people of faith across this country.”

Breen also said the TMS has retained some of the best legal talents to assist in Houck’s case, adding that if they can push back against the DOJ, it will help stop them from doing the same stunt to someone else.

Fascism.news has more stories about the Biden administration’s oppression of pro-life activists.

Watch the video below for more information about Houck’s arrest.

This video is from the LifeSiteNews channel on Brighteon.com.