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January 1, FBI Arrests Anti-Abortion Activist, Family Demands $3.25 Million in Damages
The family of anti-abortion activist Mark Houck is seeking $3.25 million in damages from the Justice Department for the “substantial emotional distress” they experienced when he was arrested by the FBI.
Houck, a practicing Catholic and father of seven, gained national attention in September 2022 when he faced federal charges for allegedly violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. The act prohibits anti-abortion advocates from intimidating women entering clinics to obtain abortions.
According to the 26-page complaint filed by his spouse, Ryan-Marie Houck, their seven children suffered trauma when a team of heavily armed FBI agents arrived at their rural property. The complaint states that their daughter, Therese, who was nine years old at the time, was “stared down” by SWAT personnel at the back door, causing ongoing anxiety.
The Houcks believe they were targeted by President Joe Biden’s DOJ to intimidate them due to their anti-abortion work, which includes praying outside abortion clinics.
Houck’s charges stemmed from a 2021 incident outside a Planned Parenthood clinic in Philadelphia. He pushed an abortion clinic volunteer who was harassing his son, Mark Jr. Local law enforcement did not press charges, but the DOJ took action after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Houck was acquitted by a jury in January 2023, but his wife claims that the FBI’s investigation, “invasion” of their home, and his subsequent arrest have caused continued suffering for the entire family.
The complaint seeks $1.5 million in damages for Mrs. Houck due to the intentional infliction of emotional distress and assault committed by the DOJ and FBI. Each child is seeking $250,000 in damages. The president of 40 Days to Life, an international anti-abortion association, supports the Houcks’ lawsuit and sees it as a declaration that targeting individuals for their pro-life stance is over.
Mark Houck, inspired by his arrest, announced in August that he is running in the Republican primary for Congress in Pennsylvania. He aims to challenge incumbent Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick in a Philadelphia-area swing district. Houck believes his voice and experience can help protect people from government overreach.
The Washington Examiner has reached out to the DOJ and the FBI for a response.
Why It Matters
The case of Mark Houck and his family seeking $3.25 million in damages from the Justice Department highlights the troubling trend of government overreach and intimidation against those who hold pro-life beliefs. The Houcks, a devout Catholic family, were targeted by the FBI for their anti-abortion advocacy, which included peaceful prayer outside abortion clinics.
The emotional distress suffered by the Houck family, particularly their young children, during the FBI’s invasive investigation and arrest is deeply concerning. This incident raises questions about the priorities of the Biden administration and its willingness to use federal agencies to intimidate and silence those with differing views on abortion.
Furthermore, the timing of Houck’s charges, coinciding with the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, suggests a politically motivated attack on a pro-life activist. This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of protecting individual liberties, including the right to peacefully express one’s beliefs without fear of retribution or government interference.
Mark Houck’s decision to run for Congress in Pennsylvania demonstrates his determination to fight against government overreach and protect the rights of individuals. It is crucial that we support candidates like Houck who will champion the principles of limited government and respect for the sanctity of life.
As our loyal readers, we encourage you to share your thoughts and opinions on this issue. Let your voice be heard and join the discussion below.
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Dorothy K Ryer
November 13, 2023 at 6:34 am
I refer anyone to the article of Dr. Tim Johnson who served as a minister,ER doctor and comentator on finding middle ground on abortion debate and thinking about being both anti abortion and Pro choice. Good article
LibertyLin
November 13, 2023 at 7:11 am
You might want to re-write the headline. It is obviously a major error.
sunshine Kid
November 13, 2023 at 7:44 am
The FBI SHOULD be sued for unconstitutional harassment.
Grizz Mann
November 13, 2023 at 7:58 am
Robert Müeller, Jim Comey, Peter Strzok, Lisa Page, Robert Cessario, Charles McGonigal, Jim Baker, Christopher Wray, Merrick Garland, Rob Rosenstein, Michael Horowitz, Tim Thibault and Andrew McCabe have ushered in the new level of competency, integrity, honesty, transparency and trust to the FBI. BTW, have they lost Hunter Biden’s laptop yet.
Linda Sykes
November 13, 2023 at 12:42 pm
Donald Trump gave the FBI a bad name when he fired Robert Mueller for investigating him in the Russian probe concerning Trump’s candidacy for President in 2016 (and after Trump got elected). Donald Trump demanded loyalty to him, so that Mueller would stop the investigation. Mueller refused, thus he was fired. Trump demanded loyalty from all his administration and if it wasn’t given, the individual was fired. But Trump didn’t give that loyalty to the Constitution or the people he was supposed to be serving. That is why the Republican’t party is a MAGA Trump Party today.
Lewis Dovland
November 13, 2023 at 8:56 am
The headline is totally misleading. It reads as if the FBI is suing the family for $3.25M, when actually, the family is suing the FBI. Can you fix it please? Is this just an oversight, is it an example of poor writing by “journalists”, or was it done on purpose to be misleading? And while you are correcting things, could you refer to the family as “Pro-Life”? and not Anti-abortion, which is also a bias.
Linda Sykes
November 13, 2023 at 12:30 pm
I had no problem in interpreting the headline: “FBI Arrests Anti-Abortion Activist, Family Demands $3.25 Million in Damages”. It says the “family” is demanding $3.25 million in damages. Why would you assume that “family” refers to the FBI? Also, the punctuation mark of a comma (,) after “Activist” indicates that it is referring to the family.
james henry james
November 13, 2023 at 11:22 am
Where is the money for an anti Democratic FBI to investigate them? where is the unlimited supply of tax dollars to fight this Democratic scam? Where are the courts crying for equal justice?
jeff Taylor
November 13, 2023 at 11:46 am
Hope he wins,, i seriously question any LE that thinks its ok to intimidate and threaten small children with firearms. Obviously this is the kind of people that DOJ wants on the SWAT teams, as it cant be coincidence that many bad apples can be on one team.
JRJ
November 17, 2023 at 2:51 pm
I will come out and say it, even though I know most on this site are against it, I am pro-choice.
That being said, this whole situation is just full-on government intimidation and overreach.
I will say if he hadn’t forced his kids to be there at the clinic to protest, the incident never would have occurred, but when authorities refuse to prosecute AND the “victim” (the man that was pushed) are ok with that (as I have read in other articles), being the main reason the prosecuted dismissed it, there is NO reason for the FBI to get involved, regardless of how they handle the situation.