Sen. Hawley Puts AG Garland on Blast Over Arrest of Pro-Life Father Who Was Acquitted

Sen. Josh Hawley pressed Attorney General Merrick Garland over the FBI’s arrest of a Catholic pro-life father during a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday.

Pro-life activist Mark Houck was found not guilty of federal charges alleging he violated the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act in January. Federal officials had claimed Houck assaulted an abortion clinic worker, while he said he was protecting his son from verbal assault. Multiple police vehicles and armed FBI agents raided Houck’s home in September, as his children begged for the officers not to take their father away.

“You used an unbelievable show of force, with guns I might note that liberals usually decry,” Hawley said during the hearing. “We’re supposed to hate long guns and assault style weapons, you’re happy to deploy them against Catholics and innocent children. Happy to. And then you haul him into court and a jury acquits him in one hour.”

“I just suggest to you that that is a disgraceful performance by your Justice Department and a disgraceful use of resources.”