Justice Department Reassesses Approach to FACE Act Cases
Recent developments within the U.S. Department of Justice indicate a shift in how cases related to pro-life activism are being handled. Following the Supreme Court’s pivotal decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022, the department has promised to focus on prosecuting those responsible for attacks on churches and pro-life pregnancy centers.
In a discussion on “The Glenn Beck Podcast,” Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ’s Office of Civil Rights, highlighted the Trump administration’s dedication to defending the rights of individuals of faith throughout the country. A significant aspect of this agenda, according to Dhillon, involves ensuring that the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act is applied justly.
The FACE Act, as explained by Dhillon, is designed to safeguard individuals accessing abortion services from acts of violence. The legislation imposes federal charges on anyone who “intentionally injures, intimidates or interferes with” individuals seeking or providing reproductive health services.
However, Dhillon asserts that the act has not been enforced as intended. “The only violence being done in recent years is to the law and to the rights of speech and of prayer of people of faith who want to pray, which is in their entire First Amendment right, outside abortion facilities,” she emphasized. Dhillon revealed that under the Biden administration, several cases in states like Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Ohio were dismissed, although the DOJ does not plan to pursue FACE Act cases unless they involve significant harm or damage.
In response to host Glenn Beck’s inquiry about addressing violence against pro-life centers, Dhillon confirmed that “Facilities … involving prenatal care are protected by the FACE Act and so we will be aggressively going after” those involved in such acts. She cited over 200 incidents of attacks on facilities offering guidance on adoption and keeping the baby, with little law enforcement intervention.
The department’s stance has been criticized for its perceived lack of action against those targeting pro-life facilities. While some individuals have been prosecuted, such as in Florida, Dhillon stated, “We will be going after those cases because every woman has a right to go into those facilities and get fair, open and even in some cases, religiously inflected advice about their choices with respect to the baby that they are growing in their bodies.”
Beck expressed concern over the violence faced by churches post-Dobbs decision, noting that perpetrators often evade justice. Dhillon countered this by mentioning recent successful prosecutions for church firebombings, highlighting the Civil Rights Division’s efforts. The DOJ maintains a “zero-tolerance policy for violence or intimidation against any person of faith,” ensuring the protection of religious freedoms as enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.
Dhillon also touched upon instances of alleged persecution within the federal government, citing the dismissal of military personnel over vaccine mandates as an example. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has reportedly extended an invitation for these individuals to return.
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This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
